TRANSPORT

Air Transport (Lost Luggage)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) BA and (b) other carriers operating from UK airports concerning lost and misrouted luggage; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Government have not been involved in any recent discussions with airlines regarding lost or misrouted luggage. However, all the major full service UK airlines have signed up to the European Voluntary Commitments on Air Passenger Rights, which were launched in February 2002. These contain non-legally binding commitments to deliver defined standards of service to air travellers.
	Signatory airlines agree to make every reasonable effort to deliver mishandled bags to the passenger within 24 hours of their arrival at the final destination, free of charge. In addition, airlines undertake to offer immediate assistance sufficient to meet the reasonable short-term needs of passengers faced with missing baggage.
	Where luggage has been lost, the 1929 Warsaw Convention places a general liability on the airline, although this liability is limited in respect of compensatory rights. The 1999 Montreal Convention will update the maximum level of damages payable for lost or damaged baggage to approximately £850 per passenger.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by his Department's predecessors in areas relating to transport, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Neither the Department for Transport nor its predecessors has awarded any contracts to Bechtel since 1997 in areas relating to Transport.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the sharing of windfall profits was the subject of negotiations with the infrastructure companies in the London Underground Public Private Partnership contracts; whether provision is made for windfall profits in the contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Windfall profits were considered in the negotiations between London Underground and the PPP consortia.
	The contracts provide the infrastructure companies reasonable certainty that they will receive a level of payment sufficient to earn an agreed rate of return if they are economic and efficient in delivering the services. The periodic reviews, every 7½ years, by the independent PPP Arbiter will, among other things, aim to enable the infrastructure companies to earn an agreed rate of return for the next period, while providing efficient and economic delivery of their services and take account of the rate of return earned in previous period.
	The contracts specify that in the event of the infrastructure company re-financing its debt, London Underground Ltd. would receive a share of any benefit.

Performance Monitoring

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets.

Tony McNulty: Performance targets for the department were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of PSA targets forms part of departmental performance management. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the department, and as such it is not possible to separate out the specific costs. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

Railway Violence

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of violence on railway trains have been reported to British Transport Police in the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by operating company.

Tony McNulty: The British Transport Police (BTP) does not record crime statistics broken down by train operating company. However, the BTP have provided information regarding incidents of violence on trains for the last four years. Table 1 shows the total number of offences reported in England and Wales and Table 2 shows the total number of offences reported in Scotland.
	
		Table 1: England and Wales
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 April 2003 to October 2003 
		
		
			 Actual Bodily Harm 781 824 766 209 
			 Disorder and Affray 103 144 143 29 
			 Assaults on Police 36 28 28 17 
			 Assaults and Violent Incidents 119 115 118 115 
			 Murder and Attempted Murder 9 11 8 4 
			 Breach of the Peace 0 10 5 1 
			 Common Assault 3,994 4,016 2,812 677 
			 Domestic Disputes 1 3 5 12 
			 Firearms and Offensive weapons 9 11 7 21 
			 Grievous Bodily Harm 114 119 101 28 
			 Sexual Assaults including Rape 11 7 10 4 
			 Racial/Homophobic Incidents 3 14 8 10 
			 Robbery/Attempted Robbery 25 19 20 18 
			 Threatening Behaviour and Violent Disorder 30 35 78 82 
			 Verbal Abuse 159 188 211 108 
			 Public Order Offences 0 4 0 5 
			 Manslaughter 0 0 3 0 
			 Total 5,394 5,548 4,323 1,340 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Scotland
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 April 2003to October 2003 
		
		
			 Actual Bodily Harm 1 0 1 0 
			 Disorder and Affray 3 0 7 1 
			 Assaults on Police 3 6 5 2 
			 Assaults and Violent Incidents 316 295 315 129 
			 Murder and Attempted Murder 2 0 0 0 
			 Breach of the Peace 0 2 6 1 
			 Common Assault 25 0 33 13 
			 Domestic Disputes 0 0 0 1 
			 Firearms and Offensive weapons 0 3 0 0 
			 Grievous Bodily Harm 0 0 0 0 
			 Sexual Assaults including Rape 0 1 0 0 
			 Racial/Homophobic Incidents 0 0 0 0 
			 Robbery/Attempted Robbery 2 0 0 0 
			 Threatening Behaviour and Violent Disorder 0 0 3 53 
			 Verbal Abuse 3 0 23 4 
			 Public Order Offences 0 0 0 0 
			 Manslaughter 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 355 307 393 204

TREASURY

Tax Credits

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South are in receipt of the working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The information for the North West region appears in the July and October 2003 issues of "Child and Working Tax Credit Quarterly Statistics".
	Information on the number of families in Merseyside and St. Helens South receiving the child and working tax credits at July 2003 appears in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses".
	These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Building Repairs (VAT)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter dated 3 October from the Member for Banff and Buchan to the hon. Member for Wentworth, regarding VAT on building repairs.

John Healey: I have done so.

Carrier Bags

Janet Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a tax on carrier bags supplied by supermarkets.

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 22 October 2002 Official Report, column 213W.

Census 2001

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what action his Department will take in response to the recent report by the Statistics Commission on the accuracy of the 2001 census for the Westminster city council area;
	(2)  if he will ask the Statistics Commission to investigate the accuracy of the 2001 census in Blackpool;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the reliability of the census population statistics for Blackpool of the recent Statistics Commission report on the accuracy of the 2001 census for Westminster.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gordon Marsden, dated 11 November 2003
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking: what action will be taken in response to the recent report by the Statistics Commission on the accuracy of the 2001 census for the Westminster City Council area (136989), whether the Statistics Commission will be asked to investigate the accuracy of the 2001 census count in Blackpool (136990) and what assessment has been made of the implications for the reliability of the census population statistics for Blackpool of the recent Statistics Commission report on the accuracy of the 2001 census for Westminster. (136991)
	It is for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to take forward the recommendations from the report by the Statistics Commission on the accuracy of the 2002 census for Westminster. ONS has welcomed this report and is considering what action is required. The Statistics Commission has made several recommendations about how ONS should proceed with Westminster, and recognised that this work was already underway. A report on the Westminster and Manchester exercise is planned for Spring 2004.
	The Statistics Commission report on the Census in Westminster concluded that no alternative approach would have produced more reliable results overall and that it seems likely that the 2001 Census was significantly better than any of its recent predecessors. The Statistics Commission's report does make a number of recommendations for further work that should be carried out by ONS but the Commission made no proposals about which ONS had not already published our intention to act or to carry out further research.
	Although I recognise that there was a relatively large fall in the 2001 Census-based population estimate for Blackpool compared to previous estimates, I am not aware of any particular cause for concern about the latest published population estimates for Blackpool. If you have some work that challenges this judgement, I would most certainly respond to it.
	The Statistics Commission is an independent body and it is not my role to attempt to influence their work programme.
	On 4 November, I published a revised population estimate for Manchester that took account of the results of the address matching exercise. This was accompanied by a document outlining the process that ONS intend to adopt to periodically validate the annual population estimates of local authorities. I will arrange for this document to be sent to you, along with two recent ONS reports (on population statistics and our approach to the next Census) that you may find of value.

Councillor Expenses

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy advice the Inland Revenue gives to local authorities on the taxation of the expenses given to a councillor in a mayoral year.

Dawn Primarolo: Guidance to local councils on the expenses and allowances payable to councillors and civic dignitaries is published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
	The ODPM guidance includes advice provided by the Inland Revenue on tax and National Insurance issues.

Creative Industries/Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the UK workforce was employed in creative industries in 2002–03.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent estimate of employment in the creative industries is for June 2002. It is estimated that at that time 6.7 per cent. of the UK workforce were employed in the creative industries, or in creative occupations outside of the creative industries.

ECOFIN

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 4th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended ECOFIN on 4 November.
	The Council decided to postpone the discussion on the Excessive Deficit Procedure for France (recommended u nder Article 1 04(8)) until the next ECOFIN on 25 November. France has committed to a budget deficit of less than 3 per cent. of GDP in 2005. The presidency concluded that postponement was the favoured option.
	The Council endorsed the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) report on the impact of ageing populations on public finances and confirmed the mandate to EPC to produce new common budgetary projections by mid-2005 on the basis of approach outlined in the EPC report. The Council also invited the EPC to produce a study on economic incentives affecting retirement. I led the orientation debate on the Transparency Directive and expressed strong concerns about the regulatory burden of introducing mandatory quarterly reporting across the EU. I supported the principle of transparency but stressed the importance of balance between it and burdensome reporting requirements. The Presidency concluded that there was a realistic chance of finding a solution and Coreper should continue discussions, ahead of the next ECOFIN, according to European Parliament timetable.
	On structural indicators for the spring report 2004, the Council adopted the following conclusions:
	The ECOFIN Council considers that the Commission's shortlist of headline indicators needs to be improved to contain indicators measuring economic reform. The EPC should continue its work with a view to achieving this.
	Council conclusions were also agreed on the role of customs in the management of external borders.
	At the request of Belgium, the Council discussed the process for finalising agreements with the UK's dependent and associated territories and Member States, concerning the taxation of savings. It was concluded that this issue would be discussed further at alater stage.
	Before the formal meeting, a dialogue with the Candidate Countries took place. The Commission congratulated the Accession States on preserving macroeconomic stability in difficult times, but stressed that challenges remained on public finances and public sector reform.
	Over lunch, Finance Ministers discussed the Intergovernmental Conference. The Chancellor stressed that tax harmonization and a federal approach to fiscal policy would be damaging for Europe's economic interests. Finance Ministers should work together to ensure outcomes from the Inter-Governmental Conference that enhanced the ability of European countries to raise productivity and employment levels and ensured that Member States retain a central role in determining their economic policies.

EDS

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 29 October 2003, Official Report, column 243W, on EDS, what sums have been paid (a) in VAT and (b) in respect of capital purchases by the Inland Revenue since 1998–99; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 (a) £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 44.9 
			 1999–2000 51.8 
			 2000–01 51.4 
			 2001–02 76.1 
			 2002–03 64.7 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 48.0 
			 1999–2000 43.4 
			 2000–01 46.9 
			 2001–02 135.5 
			 2002–03 37.9 
		
	
	During 2001–02 and 2002–03 the Inland Revenue exercised its right under its contract with EDS to buy out the future finance lease obligations for the EDS-held assets used to provide IT services to the Inland Revenue under the terms of the IT service agreement. This did not affect the legal status of the contract.

Fuel Duty

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment was made of the environmental effects before setting duty rates for (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) biodiesel in the 2003 Finance Bill.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard), 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 102W.

Income Tax

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) paid income tax and (b) paid no income tax in each of the last 10 tax years.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to table 2.1 on the Inland Revenue website for the number of taxpayers in the UK http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income tax/it t01 1.htm and the Office For National Statistics website for the population estimates for the United Kingdom for the years 1991–2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D6627.xls
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7092.xls
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7100.xls
	The number of people that paid no income tax can be derived by subtracting the number of taxpayers from the population estimates.

Pensioners (Income Tax)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of pensioners paid income tax in each nation of the United Kingdom in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by region.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 10 November 2003
	Estimates for the number and proportion of taxpaying pensioners for the years 1996–97 and 2002–03 by Government Office Region are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of taxpayingpensioners (numbers:thousands)(1) Percentage ofpensioners payingtax(2) 
			 Region 1996–97(3) 2002–03(4) 1996–97 2002–03 
		
		
			 England 3,200 4,100 36 45 
			  
			 North East 140 200 30 40 
			 North West and Mersyside 420 530 34 42 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 280 37O 30 40 
			 East Midlands 250 330 33 42 
			 West Midlands 290 41O 30 42 
			 East of England 380 46O 39 44 
			 London 410 53O 38 52 
			 South East 670 770 45 51 
			 South West 400 510 40 48 
			  
			 Wales 200 27O 35 46 
			 Scotland 330 410 36 43 
			 Northern Ireland 70 90 30 33 
			  
			 United Kingdom 3,800 4,900 36 45 
		
	
	(1) Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.
	(2) Mid-year population estimates on the number of pensioners are supplied by the Office for National Statictics.
	(3) This estimate is based upon the 1996–97 Survey of Personal Incomes.
	(4) This estimate is based upon the 200–01 Survey of Personal Incomes and is consistent with April 2003 budget.

National Insurance Fund

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of the Treasury supplement to the National Insurance Fund for the current year if it were paid at the rate specified in section 1(5) of the Social Security Act 1973; and what proportion of the total cost of the basic pension this would be.

Dawn Primarolo: The rate of Treasury supplement varied each year. The rate that applied when it was abolished in 1988–89 was 5 per cent. On this basis, Treasury supplement (if it still applied) would be £3.4 billion in 2003–04.

Private Schools

George Foulkes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on Treasury revenues of the exemption for private schools arising from their charitable status from (a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) capitals gains tax, (d) stamp duty and (e) inheritance tax on gifts in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available on the costs of charitable reliefs broken down by type of charity. The available information relates to all charities and is published in Table 10.2 of Inland Revenue Statistics at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm.

St. Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will take steps to amend tax legislation to make St. Helena a tax-free zone;
	(2)  if he will provide tax breaks for companies who relocate their offices to St Helena.

Dawn Primarolo: No. The fiscal affairs of St. Helena are primarily for its own Government. The UK would only intervene in exceptional circumstances.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, columns 455–56W, on stamp duty land tax, if he will publish his assessment of the impact of stamp duty land tax on the retail sector.

Ruth Kelly: The impact of stamp duty land tax on the retail sector was considered and discussed as part of the recent consultation process, as my earlier answer made clear. However, no formal assessment has been made of the impact on the retail sector.

VAT Registrations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons are for the differences in the statistics on value added tax registrations and de-registrations published by HM Customs and Excise in its value-added tax bulletin for September, dated 20 October and by the Department of Trade and Industry in its Statistical News Release 03/111, dated 21 October.

John Healey: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The data published by the Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service is taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register and not directly from HM Customs and Excise.
	Customs and Excise receive their data directly from traders' requests to register and deregister. These figures are published in the VAT Bulletin.
	The same data is passed to the Office for National Statistics who modify it to their own standards and definitions before incorporating into their Inter-Departmental Business Register. These adjustments exclude companies with a zero turnover and amalgamate separately-registered businesses which are part of a single 'enterprise'.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Action Energy Loans

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many defaults there have been on the repayment of action energy loans; and what the total value is of the loans on which defaults in payment have occurred;
	(2)  how much money has been committed to the Carbon Trust in action energy loans in each year since the loan scheme was established; what the average time agreed for the repayment of a loan is; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many applications for action energy loans have been made to the Carbon Trust in each year since the loan scheme was established; how many applications were successful; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Carbon Trust is a private company launched in April 2001, as part of the Climate Change Levy package, to take the lead on energy efficiency for business and the public sector, and to support the development of a low carbon economy in the UK. The Carbon Trust's Action Energy loans scheme provides interest-free loans of between £5,000 and £50,000 to small and medium-sized enterprises for energy efficiency projects.
	The Action Energy loan scheme run by the Carbon Trust is financed through its grant funding from Defra and the devolved Administrations. The Action Energy loan scheme covering England and Wales became fully operational in January 2003. Loan agreements with companies based in England and Wales operate with a fixed repayment schedule over 48 months. In April 2003 Loan Action Northern Ireland ceased and the Carbon Trust launched Action Energy Loans in its place. Loan agreements with companies based in Northern Ireland operate a repayment schedule over 12, 24, 36, or 48 months depending upon the value of the projected energy savings.
	The Carbon Trust inform me that since becoming fully operational in January 2003 the Action Energy loan scheme has, up to the end of September 2003, received 458 enquires about the scheme and formally agreed 49 loans with a value of £1,325,916.63 (these data incorporate figures from Northern Ireland from April onwards), and to date there have been no defaults on Action Energy Loan repayments.

Better Payment Practice Code

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the application of the Government's Better Payment Practice Code.

Margaret Beckett: Defra's payment policy is to pay invoices within 30 days of receipt and agreement of a valid invoice properly supported with proof of delivery of the goods, services and works requested. Defra is a signatory to the Government's Better Payment Practice Code. My Department's payment performance is reported annually to Parliament.

English Nature

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of English Nature.

Alun Michael: We strongly support the role and work of English Nature. Lord Haskins was asked to review the way the Government delivers its rural policy. This included the activities of those organisations that act directly on behalf of Defra, such as English Nature. We have recently received his report and are considering his recommendations carefully. The report has been published today.

Farm Subsidies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will publish her Department's assessment of the impact on farm business sectors of different options for decoupling;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the relative impact on unsupported livestock farmers of decoupling using (a) regional average and (b) historic methodology.

Margaret Beckett: A copy of such an assessment made by economists in Defra has been placed in the Library of the House. The assessment was placed on the Department's website on 16 October and copies have been sent to some stakeholders.

Farm Subsidies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations she has had with (a) deer, (b) bison and (c) other unsupported livestock producers about the impact of Common Agricultural Policy reform on their businesses.

Margaret Beckett: A public consultation was launched on 22 July in England on the CAP reform agreement, seeking views on various options available to member states in implementing the new system. Consultation responses have been received from the British Bison Association, a deer farmer in North Devon and organisations concerned with the welfare of livestock including unsupported species. In previous consultation rounds responses were received from a deer farm in Fife and the British Deer Farmers' Association.
	The Farm Animal Welfare Council is one of the Department's key stakeholders on CAP reform and is a member of my noble Friend the Lord Whitty's stakeholder group.
	Separate consultations are being undertaken by the Departments responsible for agricultural policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Food Supplements

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the action the Government are taking to protect and support the UK food supplements industry.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government support a safety-based approach to the regulation of food supplements. In considering specific proposals for regulation of this sector, the Government take account of the views of all stakeholders, including the food supplements industry.

Foot and Mouth

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements are placed upon her Department by the (a) National Audit Office and (b) European Union concerning invoices submitted to her Department by contractors in respect of the (i) 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease and (ii) subsequent clear-up operation; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Public bodies are required to operate financial controls that ensure public monies are properly accounted for and that the risks of systematic and systemic overcharging, financial abuse and fraud are minimized and that value for money is secured. A key requirement of this financial control is that there should be a clear audit trail with sufficient supporting documentation at all key stages.
	The National Audit Office's role is to enable the Comptroller and Auditor General to certify my Department's financial statements and to examine and report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the use of my Department's resources. As such they enabled the C&AG to certify and report on the expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of the (i) 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease and (ii) subsequent clear-up operations as recorded in my Department's resource accounts for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02. The National Audit Office also enabled the C&AG to examine and report on whether the Department acted in a cost-effective manner and whether there were adequate controls against irregularity. Their recommendations are contained in their report "The 2001 Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease" published by The Stationery Office and available also on the NAO website—www.nao.gov.uk. The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts published on 14 March 2003 its Fifth Report of Session 2002- 03—the 2001 Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease—covering the report, together with Proceedings of the Committee, Minutes of Evidence and an Appendix.
	The European Commission auditors are auditing the expenditure incurred in respect of the eradication of foot and mouth disease in 2001. As part of this work commission auditors carry out on the spot checks of the costs incurred during the 2001 outbreak. This includes the examination of invoices.

Labelling

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to ensure that labelling of potatoes in shops and supermarkets indicates the type of potato.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) require potatoes sold in shops and supermarkets to be labelled with the potato variety. Enforcement of these labelling requirements is the responsibility of local authorities. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has funded the development of a robust DNA method to check whether potato variety information is accurate. In a United Kingdom-wide survey published in October, the FSA found that 96 out of 294 (33 per cent.) samples were not labelled correctly. These results have been passed to the relevant local authorities, which are taking appropriate action.

Livestock Support Payments

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risks of market distortion if Scotland or Wales were to apply a different policy from England in respect of the decoupling of livestock support payments.

Margaret Beckett: Full decoupling of livestock subsidies frees producers to farm in response to market demands. It ensures that resources may be released to undertake more profitable activities rather than being constrained to activities which generate low value added, in order to be eligible for subsidy. The removal of the constraint on producers' choice allows them to alter their activities in order to generate increased incomes or, if they wish, to continue with their current production patterns.
	These benefits to producers are independent of any action in other parts of the UK because full decoupling removes the constraints on their business decisions but does not force them to change their activities. It is in producers' best interests in one part of the UK to benefit from full decoupling irrespective of the choices made in other parts. However, if the whole of the UK does not opt for full decoupling then the overall benefits to the economy will be diminished.

Ministerial Statements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she has applied when deciding whether to seek to make a statement in the House on the environment since the creation of her Department.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 October 2003
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made Oral Statements on a variety of subjects since the creation of Defra in June 2001, including a statement on the environmental issue of climate change (Kyoto protocol) in June 2002. In addition the House is kept informed of Departmental policy by means of Written Ministerial Statements.

Public Bodies (Haskins Review)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish Lord Haskins' review of her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Lord Haskins was asked to review the way the Government deliver their rural policy. The report has been published today, and a written statement has been made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State this morning.
	Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office.

Public Bodies (Haskins Review)

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the review of rural delivery policies being undertaken by Lord Haskins.

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish Lord Haskins' report into rural delivery.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 30 October 2003
	I asked Lord Haskins to review the way the Government deliver their rural policy. I have recently received his report and am considering his recommendations carefully.
	The report has been published today.

Waste Management

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to place anaerobic digestion on an equal level with composting in the Government's waste hierarchy.

Margaret Beckett: The Government have agreed that anaerobic digestion should be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery within the Municipal Waste Best Value Indicators. A consultation document seeking views on the options for bringing anaerobic digestion into the composting category of best value and for determining the method for allocating the proportions of treated waste that count towards composting and energy recovery was issued on 15 October. It can be viewed on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ consult /anaerobic-digestion.

DEFENCE

Employment (Lancashire and the North-West)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new jobs have been created in (a) the north west and (b) Lancashire through the Defence Diversification Agency.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Diversification Agency has been operating in the north west of England since 1999 and has so far assisted over 200 technology transfer proposals from the Ministry of Defence to a value in excess of £1 million. A further 350 potential projects have been identified and it is estimated that up to ten times that number of companies in the region could benefit from DDA assistance.
	There are currently no reliable techniques for translating the impact of technology transfer into new jobs created. However, the DDA is exploring methods of measuring value with a view to implementing appropriate measurement tools into future projects. Estimates for audit work for the Northwest Development Agency on a contract it has with the DDA suggests the DDA adds value through its activities of around three times that of its costs.

Employment (Lancashire and the North-West)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by his Department in (a) Lancashire and (b) the north-west.

Ivor Caplin: The number of people employed by the Department (headcount figure for permanent, non-industrial and industrial staff, excluding Trading Funds, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long-term sick leave, secondments etc.) as at 1 October 2003, in the north-west, is 2,800. Reliable data are not currently available at county level.

Employment (Lancashire and the North-West)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel work in Lancashire.

Ivor Caplin: In July 2002, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 490 1 armed forces personnel working in Lancashire, 60 in Fylde local authority area and 420 in Preston local authority area.
	1 All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding methods used, that total may not always equal the sum of the parts.

Iraq

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the deployment of reservist forces to Iraq; what the longest period served by a reservist in Iraq has been; and what range of specialisms has been covered by reservists in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: The range of specialisms provided by reservists to support Operation Telic broadly reflects those possessed by the Regular Forces plus a number of specialist areas unique to the Reserves. The range includes: RN amphibious warfare advisers, logisticians, intelligence analysts, linguists, RN mine warfare specialists, media operations, combat engineers, amphibious bridging specialists, signallers, port operating specialists, NBC warfare specialists, movements personnel, medical personnel, meteorologists, aircrew, ground crew, railway specialists, POL operators, HGV drivers, cooks, ambulance crews, administrative staff and the Army and Royal Marine combat arms.
	The individual reservist who has served longest in Iraq is an Army military intelligence specialist who was called-out for service on 2 February 2003 and who has volunteered to extend his period of service to 2 August 2004. Obviously, this does not represent the normal experience and most reservists will serve no more than six months in Iraq.

Military Equipment Gifts

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military equipment including (a) a description of the equipment, (b) the quantity and (c) the intended recipient gifted by the Government to other countries since September 2002; and which of those gifts were funded from the Global Conflict Prevention Fund.

Adam Ingram: The following items have been gifted to other countries since September 2002:
	Bosnia
	1 X "Mannock" Heavy Girder Bridge
	Jordan
	44 X Challenger 1 Main Battle Tanks
	6 X Challenger 1 Driver Training Tanks/Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicles
	Kenya
	The items listed were funded from the separate Africa Conflict Prevention Pool, which covers sub-Saharan Africa.
	De-Mining Equipment consisting of:
	22 X Mine Detectors plus spares package and batteries
	42 X Protective Clothing—Helmets
	20 X Spare Visors
	22 X Mine Prodders
	16 X Umbrellas
	3 X Binoculars
	5 X Compasses
	Scientific Instruments
	IT Equipment—5 X Laptop Notebooks plus associated software and consumables
	First Aid Equipment
	2 X Portable Generators
	Mine Excavation and Security Tools and equipment including—21 X trowels, 6 X picks, 2 X sledgehammers, 4 X knives, 6 X spades, 4 X spray-paint, masking tape, 4 X vaults, 4 X padlocks, 4 X fire extinguishers, 5 X jerry cans, 26 X buckets, sand bags, 36 X knee pads, 18 X gloves and batteries
	Mine detonation and associated safety equipment
	Portable and vehicle-mounted communications equipment
	Miscellaneous stationery
	Kuwait
	6 X Aircraft Sunshades ("Dutch Barns")
	Russia
	1 X Nicholson 55 Yacht "Adventure"
	In addition, the following gifts have been approved but transfer has not yet been completed. Transfer is expected to complete during the current financial year.
	Oman
	Challenger 2 Ammunition—800 X L14 Bag Charges (Warfighting)
	224 X L8 Bag Charges (Training)
	Nepal
	These items were funded from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool
	2 X MI 17 Support Helicopters
	Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment
	Logistical Equipment
	Communications Equipment

Ministerial Visits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the visits made by Ministers in his Department in each of the last five years, broken down by constituency.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Procurement Costs

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost was of procuring (a) each Eurofighter Typhoon, (b) one Challenger II battle tank, (c) one Type 45 destroyer, (d) one Astute submarine and (e) one Nimrod aeroplane.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 November 2003
	Unit production costs (UPC) for major equipment programmes, where these are practical to construct, can be found within the information given in the Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report (MPR). Those figures are estimated in accordance to methodology agreed with the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO expect to publish their MPR 2003 in December and copies will be available as normal in the Library of the House.
	Current estimated unit production costs for the projects listed are as follows:
	
		
			 Programme Comment MPR UPC (£ million) 
		
		
			 Typhoon MPR 03 56.8 
			 Challenger II battle tank Challenger II last appeared in the MPR in 2000 as delivery concluded in FY 2001–02 3.7 
			 Type 45 destroyer MPR 03. (Includes PAAMS missile systems) 552.7 
			 Astute class submarine The current estimated total resource cost for the three boats on contract of £3.6 billion includes design, development and other costs specific to a first of class. These costs would not be attributable to further buys should any subsequent orders be made. The National Audit Office has agreed that a it would be misleading to produce a UPC for Astute at this stage. — 
			 Nimrod MRA4 No UPC is provided in the MPR, however an indicative figure has been given here. For Nimrod MRA4, a significant part of the Agreement with BAE Systems announced on 19 February by the Minister for Defence Procurement was the separation of production from design and development until we have seen demonstrated performance from the first three aircraft used for flight trials. The indicative production cost of Nimrod MRA4 will thereafter be influenced by the outcome of these design and development results, timing of build and appropriate contractual negotiations. 60 
		
	
	It should be noted that unit production costs are on a resource account basis and exclude development costs.

Recruitment

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were recruited to each of HM armed forces in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by region.

Ivor Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 17 September 2003, Official Report, column 754W, and 29 October 2003, Official Report, columns 222–27W, to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

Secondments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department are seconded to other (a) Governments, (b) organisations and (c) companies; to which; for how long; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Information available on Ministry of Defence civil servants seconded to other Governments is not held centrally. As at 3 November 2003 personnel currently seconded from the Department to companies and organisations is outlined in the following two tables:
	
		Outward secondments to companies
		
			 Company Number of personnel seconded Start date End Date 
		
		
			 LogicaCMG 1 April 2002 April 2004 
			 Rolls Royce PLC 1 July 2002 July 2004 
			 Thales, France 1 July 2002 July 2004 
			 Admiral 1 July 2002 July 2004 
			 Atomic Weapons Establishment 1 August 2002 August 2004 
			 BAE Systems 2 November 2002 November 2003 
			   January 2003 January 2004 
			 Lloyds Register 1 November 2002 November 2004 
			   March 2003 March 2005 
		
	
	
		Outward secondments to organisations
		
			 Organisation Number of personnel seconded Start date End Date 
		
		
			 United Kingdom Council for Electronic Business 1 June 2002 December 2003 
			 Employment Opportunity Now 1 July 2002 July 2004 
			 The Princes Trust 1 August 2002 August 2004 
			 Civil Service Sports Council, Sports and Leisure 1 August 2002 August 2005 
			 Defence Industries Council 1 September 2002 September 2004 
			 Royal Institute of International Affairs 1 September 2002 September 2004 
			 Forum for the Future 1 October 2002 October 2004 
			 Bromley by Bow Centre 1 October 2002 November 2004 
			 Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities 2 December 2002 December 2004 
			 Bromley Primary Health Care Trust 1 January 2003 January 2006 
			 The Princes Trust 2 April 2003 April 2006  
			   August 2003 August 2005

Submarines (Radiation)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what type of radiation (a) submariners and (b) radiation workers are exposed when they leave radiation-controlled areas on board submarines.

Ivor Caplin: Both submariners and radiation workers leaving radiation-controlled areas may be exposed to very low levels of gamma and neutron radiation on board the submarine, if the reactor is operating. The construction of the submarine, and controls on occupancy of all areas, ensure that the amount of such radiation received by personnel is below Ministry of Defence's self-imposed limits, which are themselves well below all legal limits. If the reactor is shut down, the gamma and neutron radiation falls to natural background radiation levels.

Territorial Army

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many resignations from the Territorial Army have been tendered in each of the past 10 years; and how many have been received in 2003 to date.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 10 November 2003
	Data are not held centrally on the number of tendered resignations from the Territorial Army prior to 1998. Once the information from 1998 onwards has been collated, I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Unmanned Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on research on unmanned aircraft in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has a long-established research programme into Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), with a total of approximately £40 million invested over the past 10 years. The figures for annual expenditure on this research programme are provided in the table.
	It should, however, be noted that these figures detail the expenditure on UAV-specific research only: research into technologies such as aerodynamics, stealth and sensors is of relevance to UAVs but has a wide range of applications.
	
		
			  Spend (£ million) 
		
		
			 1994–95 (5)1.0 
			 1995–96 (5)1.0 
			 1996–97 (5)1.0 
			 1997–98 (5)1.0 
			 1998–99 2.1 
			 1999–2000 3.7 
			 2000–01 5.1 
			 2001–02 5.1 
			 2002–03 10.8 
			 2003–04 10.4 
		
	
	(5) Estimate figures—no exact data available.

US Military Helicopters

Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United States of America military helicopters are based in the UK.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The MH-53M Pave Low is the only United States military helicopter based in the United Kingdom. Seven of these aircraft are currently based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Cross-border Mergers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on EU proposals on (a) union consultation and (b) board room representation in cross-border mergers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The European Commission has not yet made any new proposals for an EC directive regarding cross-border mergers.

Depleted Uranium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what health protection measures are in place at aircraft manufacturing plants where depleted uranium counter weights are installed in aircraft wings.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	Work with depleted uranium is governed by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and any employer working with depleted uranium has duties under those regulations.
	The use of depleted uranium as a counter weight installed in aircraft wings presents little radiological risk and so few, if any health protection measures are required by the IRR99. It is only when the depleted uranium is machined or in some way dispersed as a dust that, because it can be inhaled or ingested, it presents any significant radiological risk. The IRR99 would then require protection measures such as adequate local ventilation and/or the use of appropriate respiratory protection and protective clothing to minimise those risks.

Excess Packaging

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to enforce regulations limiting excessive packaging on products.

Stephen Timms: The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 are enforced by local Trading Standards Offices who work closely with the packaging industry and producers to advise them on best practice in packaging design and to resolve complaints of excessive packaging. A recent study commissioned by the DTI highlights the extensive changes brought about since the introduction of the Essential Requirements. These relate to improvements in packaging design, including minimisation. This report can be viewed at www. dti.gov.uk/sustainability/finalpackagingreport.htm and is also available from DTI publications order line (0870 150 2500).

Housing and Estate Agents Ombudsman

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases were considered by the Housing and Estate Agents Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and the average cost per case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is a matter for the Ombudsman for Estate Agents. However, I understand from the Ombudsman's 2002 annual report that 2,306 complaints concerning member agencies within the scheme's terms of reference were received in 2002. Of the 583 cases closed, 340 were found in favour of complainants, 239 in favour of member agents and four outside the terms of reference.

Inward Investment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to promote inward investment in the north west.

Mike O'Brien: UK Trade and Investment is charged with ensuring that the UK as a whole maintains its place as the number one destination in Europe for inward investment in the EU. It works with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to provide a tailored service to encourage inward investment in the region. The NWDA uses a targeted approach to secure new investment in key sectors. This contributed towards the north west being the top UK region for job creation in 2002–03.

Mineral Imports

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations have been overtaken by officials of her Department into the production methods of minerals imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Miners' Compensation

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for compensation from former miners for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger have not been allowed since the schemes began; and what the average solicitor's fee charged was for dealing with each of these unsuccessful claims.

Stephen Timms: As of 26 October 2003, 16,383 respiratory disease claims and 11,096 vibration white finger claims have been denied.
	Under the Claims Handling Agreement, agreed with the solicitors representing the claimants, no costs are paid to solicitors where a claim is denied.

Philippines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions (a) her Department and (b) representatives of the Government has had with (i) local communities, (ii) members and representatives of the Government of the Philippines and (iii) non-governmental organisations concerning the activities of UK companies in the mountains of Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: There has been some routine contact with local officials and organisations in Zamboanga City, as elsewhere in the Philippines, on general economic issues. However, officials at the British embassy in Manila have no current knowledge of UK firms with commercial interests or activities in the mountains of Zamboanga del Norte.
	The FCO currently advises against all travel to central, southern, and western Mindanao, where the threat of terrorism and kidnapping in the Philippines is greatest. The mountains of Zamboanga del Norte are within this region.

Preferential Trade Status (Israel)

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reassess the list of countries selected as target markets for preferential trade promotion; if she will withdraw preferential trade promotion status from Israel; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The trade promotional activities of UK Trade and Investment (formerly British Trade International) reflect commercial developments overseas which present real and specific opportunities for UK industry sectors. In the case of Israel, we have identified opportunities, particularly in the high tech industries, and have developed a programme of activity designed to bring these opportunities to the attention of UK firms.

Small Business Regulation

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ensure that owners of small businesses are informed by enforcement agencies of (a) new regulations and (b) changes in existing regulations.

Nigel Griffiths: Individual enforcement agencies are required to publicise new regulations as part of the implementation process developed by SBS. To reinforce this, DTIs Small Business Service also provides a signposting service for all small businesses requiring information on new regulations.
	They do this by providing details of current regulations on the Business Link website and in "The No-Nonsense Guide to Government rules and regulations for setting up your business," which was published by Business Link earlier this year.
	Our website will shortly highlight changes to regulations as they occur and will enable proactive alerts on these changes.

St. Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of (a) imports to and (b) exports from St. Helena was in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: According to estimates published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), St. Helena's trade in goods with the rest of the world were as follows:
	
		St. Helena's trade in goods with the world -- US$ million, current prices and exchange rates
		
			  Exports Imports 
		
		
			 1997 6 44 
			 1998 6 30 
			 1999 8 53 
			 2000 7 28 
			 2001 11 27 
		
	
	Source:
	IMF Direction of Trade Statistics.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the Government's textile strategy after the end of import quotas in 2005.

Mike O'Brien: The UK textiles and clothing industry faces tough challenges. The way for this vibrant and innovative industry to secure the future, despite the very real competition faced from China and other low cost suppliers, is through investment, continual innovation, diversifying into new markets or products, more efficient production methods and continually raising its game to remain competitive.
	My Department is working with the industry-led Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group, which aims to build a sustainable future for the UK industry by increasing its competitiveness to meet the challenges of globalisation and the impact of the final stage in the phasing out of import quotas in 2005. This work is underpinned by my Department's Manufacturing Strategy, which is helping to ensure that UK manufacturers have the right conditions for growth and sustainability to enable them to improve productivity and to move up the value chain to high skilled, knowledge intensive operations.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what import quotas are in place for textiles; and what assessment she has made of the effect of removing them.

Mike O'Brien: The European Union currently imposes import quotas on imports of certain textiles and clothing products from 19 supplier countries. Under the terms of the GATT/WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) a ten-year quota phase-out from 1995 is underway and will be completed on 31 December 2004. From 1 January 2005 quotas will only remain on textiles and clothing imports from a small number of non-WTO member countries (e.g. Vietnam, north Korea, Belorus). No assessment of the effects of quota removal specifically on the UK has been made, though an EU-wide assessment is due to be released early in 2004.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tariffs are in place on the import of textiles; what assessment she has made of the future of the tariff system after 2005; and what tariffs are imposed on the import of textiles outside the EU.

Mike O'Brien: As a result of the GATT/WTO Uruguay Trade Agreement, maximum EU tariffs on imports of textiles and clothing from 1 January 2004 will be 0 per cent. for textile raw materials, 4 per cent. for yarns, 8 per cent. for fabrics and 12 per cent. for clothing and other made-up items (such as blankets). This represents a small reduction on current rates: a maximum 4.6 per cent. for yarns, 8.2 per cent. for clothing and 12.2. per cent for clothing and made-up items. No further change in the tariff system is expected until the results of the Doha Development Agenda are implemented when we hope to see a significant reduction in global industrial tariffs. EU tariffs are among the lowest in the world in the textile and clothing sector in which tariffs of over 30 per cent. are not uncommon.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of exports of textiles from (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland was in each of the last 10 years in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

Mike O'Brien: Data on the UK and Scotland's exports of textiles are given in the table:
	
		UK and Scottish exports of textiles (excluding clothing) -- £ million
		
			  Current prices 2000 prices 
		
		
			 UK exports   
			 1993 2,836 2,591 
			 1994 3,212 2,858 
			 1995 3,447 2,965 
			 1996 3,654 3,193 
			 1997 3,629 3,329 
			 1998 3,305 3,134 
			 1999 3,066 3,021 
			 2000 3,027 3,027 
			 2001 2,969 2,951 
			 2002 2,829 2,820 
			 Scottish exports   
			 1993 n/a n/a 
			 1994 n/a n/a 
			 1995 n/a n/a 
			 1996 290 n/a 
			 1997 280 n/a 
			 1998 259 n/a 
			 1999 248 n/a 
			 2000 252 n/a 
			 2001 253 n/a 
			 2002 212 n/a 
		
	
	Note:
	The textile industry is defined as Divisions 17 of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
	Sources:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Business Monitor MQ10, UK Trade in Goods Analysed in Terms of Industry

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of textile imports into the United Kingdom was in each of the last 10 years in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

Mike O'Brien: Data on the UK's imports of textiles are given in the following table:
	
		UK imports of textiles 1993–2002—trade in textiles(excluding clothing) -- £ million
		
			  Current prices 2000 prices 
		
		
			 1993 4,405 4,279 
			 1994 4,819 4,431 
			 1995 5,190 4,289 
			 1996 5,598 4,716 
			 1997 5,698 5,145 
			 1998 5,538 5,359 
			 1999 5,202 5,349 
			 2000 5,238 5,238 
			 2001 5,453 5,444 
			 2002 5,415 5,710 
		
	
	Note:
	The textiles industry is defined as Division 17 of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
	Source:
	United Kingdom Trade in goods Analysed in Terms of Industry, ONS

Tribal Peoples (Brazil)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the (a) impact and (b) cost to UK companies of the 1998 Brazilian Government decree recognizing and officially demarcating the lands of the Marubo, Matis, Matses, Kanamari, Kulina and Korobo peoples in the Javari valley in Western Amazonia as an indigenous area; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the (a) impact on and (b) cost to UK companies of the 1998 reclamation by the native Guarany; peoples of the Jarara, Sucuiy, Lima Ry and Potrero Guacu communities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: None, since no representations have been made to this department on this issue.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to combat poverty in Angola.

Hilary Benn: Following the 2002 cease-fire between the Government and UNITA, which ended the civil war, there is now opportunity for Angola to achieve sustainable peace and democracy, economic growth and poverty reduction. This is why we have increased DFID's post-conflict Country Programme for Angola from £4.7 million in 2001–02 to £9 million this year to help achieve these objectives.
	We are working closely with other international donors to consolidate the peace in Angola and prevent future conflicts; help secure a political system which allows people to influence state policy and practice; and working to influence a basic change in the Government of Angola's approach in the areas of transparency, economic governance and the development of policies to tackle poverty.
	In the short term, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate needs of destitute people and to contribute towards de-mining to facilitate resettlement and economic and social recovery. We will continue to provide assistance in these areas for as long as this is needed.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department (i) is providing and (ii) plans to provide to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: So long as the transition process remains on track, DFID is planning a significant increase in support to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the period 2003–06, with a view to helping DRC make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
	We have recently informed the Transitional National Government (TNG) of the DRC, and made public, a significant increase in our programme for DRC to £23 million for 2003–04, following the installation of the TNG this summer. The UK is working with other bilateral donors and multi-lateral agencies to ensure a coordinated response to the needs of the DRC. In 2002–03, in addition to £16 million in bilateral assistance, the UK contributed approximately £9 million through the EU, £26 million through the World Bank and £36 million through the UN agencies (including the United Nations Mission to DRC).
	Ensuring a successful transition process, including the successful embedding of the TNG, is crucial to our overall goal of ensuring peace and poverty reduction in the DRC and through that, the region as a whole. As a member of the Kinshasa-based International Committee for Support to the Transition, we are pressing for a well developed and shared understanding between donors and government of the transition process, as well as strong day-to-day co-ordination of donor support.
	We are providing direct support for the basic infrastructure needs of the Transition Institutions, which include the Offices of the President and the four Vice Presidents, Government, Parliament, Senate, Supreme Court and the five Democracy Support Commissions (Elections, Human Rights, Truth and Reconciliation, Anti-Corruption and Media). We have provided technical assistance for the drawing up of a national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) strategy, and have offered similar support on the Security Sector Reform (SSR) strategy and the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). We are also looking at providing some civil service capacity building support to the Government with UNDP and other donors.
	It is crucial for DRC and the wider Great Lakes region that the transition process remains on track. We are therefore making continued efforts to strengthen and consolidate peace, which include humanitarian support, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, army, police and justice sector reform, and grassroots peace-building.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with the Governments of (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Rwanda and (c) Uganda regarding the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK is seeking to help resolve conflict and establish conditions for genuine development in the whole of the Great Lakes region. We have maintained a close dialogue with the former Government and now the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa and with the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda on the need for good neighbourly relations as the basis for national and regional stability. We continue to do so.
	Both Rwanda and Uganda have taken positive steps recently to normalise their relations with the TNG in DRC, including mutual ministerial visits and the signing in New York on 25 September 2003 of a Good Neighbourly Pact, which included commitments that all support for armed groups should end and that there should be no illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC.

Development Assistance

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's combined net public and private investment and development assistance to the developing world was in each year since 1995 in terms of percentage of GDP.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is given in the following table. Note that such flows are usually expressed as a percentage of gross national income (GNI) rather than GDP.
	
		Total UK net flows (amounts extended less amounts received) to developing countries 1995–2002 -- £ million
		
			  Official flows Private flows Total As a percentage of GNI 
		
		
			 1995 2,164 5,968 8,132 1.15 
			 1996 2,102 11,590 13,692 1.83 
			 1997 2,027 9,046 11,073 1.39 
			 1998 2,299 4,301 6,600 0.83 
			 1999 2,103 7,353 9,456 1.05 
			 2000 2,927 1,737 4,664 0.50 
			 2001 3,181 3,453 6,634 0.67 
			 2002 3,272 9,264 12,536 1.18

Iraq

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what impact he estimates the security situation in Iraq will have on promotion of (a) democracy and (b) reconstruction of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Today there are over 40,000 police on duty in Iraq, the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty, a major police recruitment and training exercise is under way, and a new police academy has opened in Basra. Over 30 countries (in addition to the UK and US) have a total of 16,000 troops on the ground in Iraq, as part of the international stabilisation effort.
	Although the security situation has restricted the activities of the international staff of aid agencies, politicians, coalition officials and Iraqi citizens are able to go about their business. Progress is being made in promoting democracy and undertaking reconstruction. Political parties are forming, the Iraqi media is now free and many newspapers are appearing, and civil society organisations are emerging. Ministries are functioning and plans are being formed to modernise the civil service. In addition, Iraqi business is beginning to grow, infrastructure is being restored and service delivery is improving. Donors have also been undertaking needs assessments and are making arrangements for funding following the successful Madrid Conference.

Nutrition Levels

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the average nutrition levels are (a) globally, (b) for each continent, (c) in each of the EU member states, (d) in each of the ex-Soviet Union states, (e) in each country in Africa and (f) in West Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Worldwide, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that 840 million people were undernourished in 1998–2000. These figures include 11 million in the industrialised countries, 30 million in countries in transition and 799 million in the developing world. There is no single measure of nutrition levels: different indicators measure different aspects of nutrition. The attached table, based on data in the World Bank's 2003 World Development Indicators, gives figures for three of these indicators where they are available.
	Recent reports from West Darfur, Sudan, using rapid assessment techniques indicate very high levels of malnutrition among people displaced by conflict. Relief agencies are seeking, as a matter of urgency, to investigate further using standard assessment methodologies.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is concerned about the situation in all parts of Darfur. DFID has recently provided Save the Children UK with £500,000 for a humanitarian intervention. DFID has also agreed to provide £1 million to UNHCR for Sudanese from Darfur who have sought refuge in Chad. DFID is planning an additional £1 million contribution to the 2003 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Appeal for Sudan and a £2 million contribution to the World Food Programme Emergency Operation in Sudan, in response to the situation in Darfur. Other interventions, through international NGOs and United Nations agencies in Darfur, are being considered.
	
		Indicators of nutritional level(6)
		
			  Proportion of population undernourished Proportion of children under five underweight Proportion of children under five stunted 
		
		
			 (a) Global 18 — — 
			   
			 (b) Region
			 Sub-Saharan Africa 33 — — 
			 Middle East and North Africa 8 15 — 
			 L America and Caribbean 12 9 19 
			 East Asia and Pacific 11 15 14 
			 South Asia 25 53 47 
			 
			 (c) EU states No comparable figures available 
			 
			 (d) Ex-Soviet(7)
			 Azerbaijan — 17 20 
			 Georgia — 3 12 
			 Kazakhstan — 4 10 
			 Kyrgyz Rep — 11 25 
			 Russian Fed — 3 13 
			 Tajikistan — — 31 
			 Turkmenistan — 12 22 
			 Ukraine — 3 16 
			 Uzbekistan — 19 31 
			 
			 (e) Africa
			 Algeria 6 6 18 
			 Angola 50 41 53 
			 Benin 13 23 31 
			 Botswana 25 13 29 
			 Burkina Faso 23 34 37 
			 Burundi 69 45 — 
			 Cameroon 25 22 29 
			 CAR 44 23 28 
			 Chad 32 28 29 
			 Congo DR 73 34 45 
			 Congo Rep 32 — — 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 15 21 25 
			 Egypt 4 4 19 
			 Eritrea 58 44 38 
			 Ethiopia 44 47 52 
			 Gabon 8 12 21 
			 Gambia 21 17 30 
			 Ghana 12 25 26 
			 Guinea 32 33 41 
			 Guinea-Bissau — 25 — 
			 Kenya 44 22 33 
			 Lesotho 26 18 44 
			 Liberia 39 — — 
			 Libya — 5 15 
			 Madagascar 40 40 48 
			 Malawi 33 25 49 
			 Mali 20 27 49 
			 Mauritania 12 32 35 
			 Morocco 7 — — 
			 Mozambique 55 26 36 
			 Namibia 9 — — 
			 Niger 36 40 40 
			 Nigeria 7 31 34 
			 Rwanda 40 24 43 
			 Senegal 25 18 23 
			 Sierra Leone 47 27 — 
			 Somalia 71 26 23 
			 S Africa — 9 23 
			 Sudan 21 11 34 
			 Swaziland 12 10 — 
			 Tanzania 47 29 44 
			 Togo 23 25 22 
			 Tunisia — 4 8 
			 Uganda 21 23 39 
			 Zambia 50 24 42 
			 Zimbabwe 38 13 27 
		
	
	(6) Taken from 2003 World Development Indicators—most recent figures available.
	(7) Where figures are available.
	Note:
	Where no figure is shown the World Bank has chosen not to estimate or publish a figure. The World Bank takes into consideration the coverage, date and quality of data available.

Oil Pipeline (Caucasus)

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on the proposed oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made on 5 November 2003 Official Report, columns 35–36WS, which sets out DFID's position on funding by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

St. Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many tourists he estimates will visit St. Helena in each year once (a) the breakwater and (b) the airport is completed.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: No decisions have been made on whether to build a breakwater or an airport in St. Helena. The possibility of a breakwater, which the island authorities believe would provide safer and assured disembarkation and embarkation at all or most times from and to ships, is to be investigated further for technical and economic viability. For the latest position on possible establishment of air access, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Written Statement to this House on 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 43WS. Last year, 7,692 arrivals were recorded by St. Helena's Immigration Department. This figure included 5,362 persons landed from cruise ships. The rest included other tourists, business visitors and those visiting friends and families. Consultants estimated in 2001 that total arrival numbers could increase to 14,850 within five years of establishing access by air. The St. Helena Government estimates that largely assured disembarkation and embarkation of passengers from and to ships could alone more than double the number of cruise ship visitors to the island.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Energy Use

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave him today.

Engagements

David Cameron: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are made for chairing his weekly planning and co-ordination meeting in Downing street when he is unable to attend.

Tony Blair: None.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Charter

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what organisations she will consult on the forthcoming review of the BBC Charter.

Tessa Jowell: The review will be wide-ranging, with a great deal of industry and public consultation, and will, I hope, be characterised by vigorous and open debate. I have appointed Lord Burns to give me independent advice throughout. The process will be extensive and thorough, with several opportunities for people to feed in their views, and there will be an appropriate Parliamentary stage.
	It will begin before the end of the year when I issue a consultation document outlining the main issues for consideration.
	I shall be seeking views from all organisations and individuals with an interest. In particular I will ask those in the broadcasting industry for their views and will feed those views back into the wider consultation process.

BBC Charter

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the process for the forthcoming review of the BBC Charter.

Tessa Jowell: The review will be wide-ranging, with full industry and public consultation, and I hope, be characterised by vigorous and open debate. It will begin before the end of the year when I issue a consultation document outlining the main issues for consideration. It will take into account Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting, Philip Graf's review of the on-line services, the forthcoming review of the BBC's digital TV and radio services, and numerous other strands of work. We will engage directly with the general public throughout the process on an unprecedented scale. I have appointed Lord Burns to give me independent advice throughout.
	I aim to publish a Green Paper around the end of 2004 drawing on this sequence of reviews, consultation and analysis, to be followed by a White Paper containing considered recommendations to set before Parliament and the public. The whole process will be completed well before the Charter expires in 2006.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Neither DCMS nor the Royal Parks Agency have any record of contracts with Bechtel over the period 1997 to 2003.

Commercial Radio Licences

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when she expects Ofcom to invite applications for a new commercial radio licence in Cornwall;
	(2)  what changes she expects Ofcom to make in the process of (a) advertising and (b) issuing new commercial radio licences;
	(3)  when she expects Ofcom to resume the advertising of new commercial radio licences.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 10 November 2003
	These are matters for Ofcom. They will assume responsibility for advertising and awarding radio broadcast licences from the Radio Authority on 29 December 2003.
	On 6 November, the Radio Authority announced the award of the local digital multiplex licence serving most parts of Cornwall, and the city of Plymouth, to South West Digital Radio Ltd.

National Lottery

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications were (a) received, (b) rejected and (c) successful for Lottery money for London in each of the last five years.

Estelle Morris: This Department does not keep the information in the form requested.
	The following number of awards have been made in London for each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Number of awards 
		
		
			 January 1998 to January 1999 794 
			 January 1999 to January 2000 2,157 
			 January 2000 to January 2001 3,174 
			 January 2001 to January 2002 2,701 
			 January 2002 to January 2003 3,242 
			 January 2003 to 10 November 2003 1,838 
		
	
	This is derived from the Department's Awards Database and is based on information supplied by the distributing bodies.

Shurland Hall, Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the decision on the future of Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey will be announced.

Estelle Morris: English Heritage is in discussion with the owner and the local planning authority over the proposed strategy for Shurland Hall, which is to convert it into residential property. Subject to the agreement of the current owner and the availability of funds, it is hoped that a first tranche of holding repairs, leading to the removal of the scaffolding, will be implemented in summer 2004.

Sport (EU Competition Legislation)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's policy is on the exclusion of sport from the requirements of EU competition legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The Government firmly believe that sport like any other activity must abide by the requirements of EU and UK competition legislation.
	The Government note that in recent sports cases considered by the European Commission Competition Directorate due note has been taken of the specific characteristics of sport as set out in the declaration on sport made by the 2000 European Council meeting in Nice.
	The Government support the proposals to include specific reference to sport in the proposed new European Treaty but is seeking improvements in the text proposed by the European Convention to reflect more accurately the Nice declaration. I discussed detailed textual suggestions with my European colleagues at our informal meeting in Florence on 2–3 October and secured support for a revised text from the overwhelming majority of the 25 states represented. I hope that progress on this text can be made in the current discussions within the Intergovernmental Conference.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing a multilateral authority under UN auspices in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511, adopted unanimously on 16 October, reaffirms the responsibilities of the Coalition Provisional Authority, supports an Iraqi-led political process, and resolves to strengthen the vital role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, as circumstances permit.

Iraq

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in recruiting police to serve in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Home Secretary has agreed to establish a pool of 200 serving UK police officers to sustain a deployment of 100 officers at any one time. A total of 20 officers have been deployed so far.
	The focus of the UK effort is on deploying UK officers to train Iraqi policemen in the police academy in Basra and at the Iraqi Police Training Centre being established in Jordan. 24 officers are currently in training for deployment to Basra in mid December. Provision has been made for up to 75 officers to deploy to Jordan in the next few months, with the first group of 26 set to deploy on 23 November and a further 35 in December.
	In addition, A British police Officer, Deputy Chief Constable Douglas Brand, is the senior adviser in the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. Deputy Chief Constable Stephen White of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is senior police adviser in the South of Iraq. Rin Shadforth (Superintendent Warwickshire Police Retired) is Deputy Director of the Jordan Training School.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to improve the security afforded to members of the Iraqi Governing Council.

Bill Rammell: As part of the Coalition Provisional Authority the UK regularly discusses security with the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) in a weekly committee. This often focuses on security for IGC members themselves. The CPA takes appropriate practical steps to meet requests made by Council members. The UK is unilaterally providing a protected vehicle to the IGC. However in the interests of security it would be inappropriate to give further details.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations are being carried out to assess (a) the protection afforded to Aquila al-Hashimi of the Iraqi Governing Council and (b) ways in which her assassination could have been prevented.

Bill Rammell: We are awaiting the outcome of a police report into the incident. It is not our policy to comment on security measures for individuals.

Iraq

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to pass control of the Iraqi Governing Council to Iraqi citizens.

Bill Rammell: The Government are committed to helping the Iraqis establish a democracy. The timetable for this process is a matter for the Iraqi people. The United Nations Security Council has invited the Iraqi Governing Council to provide, by 15 December 2003, a timetable and a programme for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections under that constitution.

Iraq

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reflect the wishes of the various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups in the formation of the new Iraqi constitution.

Bill Rammell: The formation of a new Iraqi constitution is a matter for the Iraqi people.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 10 September 2003, Official Report, column 335W, how many staff reviewed the UNMOVIC document; what their qualifications were; how many staff hours were spent on the review; when they reported to him on their review; and if he will place the review comments in the Library.

Denis MacShane: The UNMOVIC document was the culmination of 18 months of analysis of the final report of UNSCOM and the findings of the Amorim panel which initially reviewed that report. Although primarily the work of UNMOVIC staff, its drafting was overseen by the UNMOVIC Commissioners, a group drawn from 15 countries. The UK Commissioner is a senior member of staff of the Ministry of Defence. Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, together with officials of other interested UK Government Departments, were fully involved in the drafting process. The reviewing of the reliability and robustness of information in the report formed an integral part of producing the final, published version.

Iraq

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Iraq Government owes to each member of the Paris Club of countries.

Bill Rammell: The Paris Club of official creditors issued a press release on 10 July stating that Iraq's debt to members stood at US$21,018 million, all of which results from credits contracted before August 1990. It also noted that adding late interest would roughly double that amount. I am placing a copy of this press release, which includes details of outstanding Iraqi debts owed to all Paris Club members into the Library of the House. It can also be found at http://www.clubdeparis.org/rep upload/030600pr-cleanfinal.pdf.
	The UK Government hold unrecovered claims of more than £620 million plus an estimated interest accruing over the past 12 years of around £525 million. These claims result from export credits. Iraq does not have any UK official development assistance debt.

Afghanistan

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the President of Afghanistan on the work in that country of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Bill Rammell: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have had any recent discussions with President Karzai concerning the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The work of that organisation has now been transferred to the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, headed by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi.
	The UK continues to work closely with the UN in Afghanistan, and applauds its excellent work to date, including in the humanitarian field where we have witnessed tangible improvements in the past year.

Afghanistan

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UN Report, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2003.

Bill Rammell: I would refer the right hon. Member to the statement I made on 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 20WS, regarding the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey results for the 2003 opium poppy crop in Afghanistan.
	While the increase in opium cultivation and production is unwelcome, it is not unexpected. Experience of counter-narcotic policies in other countries, such as Pakistan and Thailand, shows that cultivation tends to increase before declining.

Israel

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel regarding the erection of the fence on the West Bank.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz), Official Report, 11 November 2003, column 169.

Israel

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the Government in pressing the Israeli Government to conduct an independent, public and judicial inquiry into the shooting of Mr. Tom Hurndall; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have pressed the Israelis on a number of occasions for a full and transparent investigation into the shooting of Tom Hurndall. This was done most recently by my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean during her recent visit to Israel. We have been recently informed that there will be a military police investigation into the shooting.

Israel

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representations he has made to the Israeli Government regarding the building of the Israeli security barrier.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns about the route of the fence to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, when he visited London on 14 July, and the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, on 18 July. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.
	We have made representations through our embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli embassy in London.

Israel

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the Government in pressing the Israeli Government to conduct an independent, public and judicial inquiry into the fatal shooting of Mr. James Miller; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have pressed the Israelis on a number of occasions for a full and transparent investigation into the shooting of James Miller. This was done most recently by my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean during her recent visit to Israel. We have been informed that there will be a Military Police investigation into the shooting.

North Korea

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on measures to contain North Korea's nuclear programme.

Bill Rammell: We remain active in support of the six party talks process, begun in Beijing in August, the agreed objective of which is the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Government have had with representatives and members of the governments of (i) EU member states, (ii) Russia, (iii) the USA, (iv) Japan and (v) China concerning (A) North Korea and (B) planned diplomatic initiatives on the North Korea nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss North Korea's nuclear programmes with EU partners, Russia, the US, Japan and China, both at ministerial and official level. Our discussions with these countries reflect an encouraging and wide-ranging commitment to the six-party talks process, and to the objectives of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and the peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue.

Roma (EU Applicant Countries)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with EU applicant countries progress towards ensuring equal rights for the Roma communities in those countries.

Denis MacShane: We regularly raise the importance of equal rights for Roma and other minority groups with these countries, mainly through our Embassies, as does the Commission in its monitoring reports, Association Committees and pre-accession programmes. Details of FCO project work on Roma communities are included in the FCO human rights annual report. We also participate with EU applicant countries in discussions in the OSCE and Council of Europe on Roma rights.

Bulgaria

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Bulgarian Ministers.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign Secretary most recently met Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy on 6 November in London. They discussed a range of bilateral and EU-related issues. They also have frequent contact in the margins of multilateral meetings, such as the IGC or NATO Ministerials.

Iran

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further joint initiatives with the French and German foreign ministers he will undertake with respect to Iran.

Bill Rammell: We will continue to work with like-minded governments in any combination required to impress on Iran the need to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and rebuild trust in its intentions. Following the visit to Tehran last month by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his French and German counterparts, the onus now lies with Iran to deliver on its commitments. We are also calling on Iran to address international concerns on human rights, international terrorism and support for the Middle East Peace Process.

Baker Plan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the UN, (b) the USA and (c) the EU on the use of sanctions if Morocco refuses to meet its commitments under the Baker Plan.

Bill Rammell: None.

Controlled Goods

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he has made since 27 February to research in greater detail the US systems of end-use monitoring of exports of controlled goods; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been researching the United States system of end-use monitoring, and will be informing Ministers of their findings in the near future.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Rwanda and (c) Burundi concerning hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: From the outset of the conflict Ministers and officials have used every opportunity to discuss the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the governments in the region. We have worked with our UN and EU partners to promote restoration of peace and stability in the region. We are encouraged by the progress made since the installation of the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa earlier this year and by the recent efforts by the countries concerned to improve relations with the DRC.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with UN officials on the use of child soldiers in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on UK policy.

Chris Mullin: The UK condemns the use of child soldiers. The fourth report of the UN Secretary-General on the use of children in armed conflict is due shortly and this will lead to a debate on this issue in the UN Security Council in the next few months. The UK discusses the issue with a range of UN bodies, particularly the Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, and works with the UN system to eradicate the use of child soldiers, including support through the Department for International Development for a UNICEF programme of capacity building to strengthen its response in emergency situations. A key element of this programme is improving its advocacy on the situation of children affected by armed conflict at all levels.
	Within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a number of child protection advisers have been deployed as an integral part of the ongoing UN mission there. The UK supports UN projects in the DRC such as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, including child soldiers.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the political groupings in the Democratic Republic of Congo concerning a peace process to end current hostilities.

Chris Mullin: Since the outbreak of the conflict in 1998 the UK has put its weight behind regional peace initiatives, maintaining a dialogue with all the main belligerents in the conflict to urge them to bring about a negotiated settlement. The Agreements signed in Lusaka (August 1999) and Pretoria Agreement (July 2002), and the Global and Inclusive Accord (December 2002) laid the foundation for the establishment of a transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now that this is in place the UK continues its dialogue with the parties, including as a member of the Kinshasa-based International Committee of Support to the Transition.
	The UK also supports efforts to bring an end to conflict in the Ituri region of north-eastern DRC. This has included through our contribution to the EU-led Operation Artemis and financial and other support to the Interim Ituri Administration.

East Timor

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of President Xanana Gusmao of East Timor to the UK; and what issues were discussed.

Mike O'Brien: The Government were delighted to welcome President Xanana Gusmao to the UK on a guest of Government visit. President Xanana Gusmao has played a pivotal role, not only in his country's struggle for independence, but also in promoting post-conflict reconciliation and a better future for his people. The President had an audience with HM The Queen, and meetings with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Paul Murphy) and Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (Mr. Ingram), and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas). I also had a meeting with President Gusmao during which he expressed his gratitude for the UK's assistance to East Timor since 1999 and asked that the UK continue to remain engaged in assisting East Timor. The President also visited Northern Ireland to learn about reconciliation efforts there.

European Constitution

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact he estimates the draft European Union constitution will have on the United Kingdom energy sector; and what changes are proposed to the present regulatory position.

Denis MacShane: Article 111–130 (2)(c) provides for voting by unanimity on "measures significantly affecting a member state's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply". The Government have made a legal assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitutional Treaty on UK powers to regulate the energy sector. Article 111–157 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty states the policy on energy shall aim to:
	(a) ensure the functioning of the energy market;
	(b) ensure security of energy supply in the Union; and
	(c) promote energy efficiency and saving and the development of new and renewable forms of energy.
	and states that this policy shall not affect a member state's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply.
	Under the Treaty establishing the European Community, there is already Union activity in energy matters and we believe there is a strong case for making the legal base for policy in this area more transparent. The UK support the opening up of the European energy market which benefits British energy firms. The UK Government would not agree to any proposal that was inconsistent with UK energy interests.

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had since the start of the Inter-Governmental Conference with the Foreign Ministers of (a) Denmark, (b) Italy and (c) Germany relating to the primacy, under Article 110 of the draft European Constitution, of the European Constitution over their own respective constitutions; if he will urge those ministers to hold discussions on the matter with the judges of their respective constitutional courts; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have discussed the wording of Article 1–10 with all our EU partners, as part of our ongoing discussions on the IGC. It is for them to decide what advice to seek.

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft of the Protocol relating to the succession of rights and obligations which it is proposed should be annexed to the European Constitution.

Denis MacShane: There is no such Protocol. The current proposal is for legal continuity in relation to the European Community and the European Union to be covered in Part IV of the Constitutional Treaty. The Convention on the Future of Europe's draft was laid before Parliament in August as Command Paper 5897.

Greece (British Plane Spotters)

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he and the Attorney-General (a) have made and (b) plan to make to the Greek Government to ensure the repayment to the British plane-spotters arrested in Greece of their bail sureties.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 10 November 2003
	My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Attorney-General have made no representations to the Greek Government to ensure repayment of the British plane spotters' bail money.
	The Greek court released the bail money on 22 May 2003. One of the 12 has now received his money. The others are currently in dispute with their Greek lawyers, one of who has taken out an injunction to prevent this money being released until a solution is agreed. This is now a private, legal dispute between the plane spotters and their lawyers.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the legality of the detention of British nationals at Guantanamo Bay.

Chris Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of representations about the legality of the detentions of the British nationals at Guantanamo Bay. These have included representations from some of the families, lawyers, interested Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations and members of the public.

Indonesia

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 615, whether Indonesia has met its obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions and the UN Charter on justice and co-operation with the Serious Crimes Unit.

Mike O'Brien: Paragraph 12 of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1410, which established the mandate for the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) stresses the critical importance of cooperation between East Timor and Indonesia and cooperation with UNMISET to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes committed in 1999 are brought to justice.
	In a statement to the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 31 March 2003 the EU urged the Indonesian Government to fully cooperate with the UN Special Crime Unit's investigations, and the investigation into the murder of five journalists at Balibo in 1975. Hitherto, Indonesia has not permitted questioning of any of those indicted by the Serious Crimes Unit who are currently resident in Indonesia.

Pakistan

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what efforts his Department is making to end persecution of Christians in Pakistan;
	(2)  what recent discussions his Department has had with authorities in the Pakistan Government about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with organisations based in the UK campaigning to end persecution of Christians in Pakistan;
	(4)  what work the British high commission in Islamabad undertakes to reduce the persecution of Christians in Pakistan.

Mike O'Brien: We engage at all levels with the Pakistani Government and with civil society on the plight of Christians in Pakistan. We have raised this issue repeatedly in both official and ministerial level contacts and also in conjunction with our EU partners. There have been three separate EU demarches since June 2002 on this subject. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri on 4 November.
	The British high commission in Islamabad maintains close contacts with representatives of the religious minorities and human rights organisations within Pakistan. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contact with a range of UK- based NGOs. including those who campaign for the rights of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan.

Pakistan

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistan Government regarding the (a) numbers and (b) condition of children under 16 held in detention in Pakistan.

Mike O'Brien: Ministers have not raised this issue directly with the Pakistani Government, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is supporting implementation of the Juvenile Justice Ordinance 2000 to bring the Pakistani justice system into line with international standards. Recently we sponsored provincial training workshops in Pakistan for criminal justice professionals. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has now taken note of conditions of child prisoners by calling for action in all provinces.

St. Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the revenue from fishing licences for foreign fishing vessels in St. Helena was in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The revenue from the issue of fishing licences to foreign fishing vessels in each of the last five vears was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 to date 99,233.94 
			 2002–03 56,566.80 
			 2001–02 110,309.47 
			 2000–01 217,507.56 
			 1999–2000 614,031.99

Uzbekistan

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote the development of human rights in Uzbekistan.

Bill Rammell: We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and continue to raise our concerns both bilaterally and with EU partners. In addition, there are two particular ways in which we can monitor reform and exert pressure. The first is a set of benchmarks against which political and economic reforms will be measured, agreed in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) strategy for Uzbekistan. These will be reviewed by the EBRD later in the year. The second is the UN Special Rapporteur's Report on Torture in Uzbekistan, which referred to torture as "systematic". We shall continue to press the Uzbek authorities to implement his recommendations.
	The UK is willing to provide assistance in the area of judicial reform and to assist Uzbekistan with broadening the investigative capacity of its police. Testing the Uzbek authorities' willingness to work with others to reform their behaviour is crucial. In Tashkent we are currently working with Human Rights organisations, the OSCE, UNDP and other embassies to push Uzbekistan to develop and implement a National Action Plan to Combat Torture.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Morocco's stance on the main part of the Baker Plan for the western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom supports fully the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy, James Baker III, to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the western Sahara dispute that provides for self-determination for the people of western Sahara.
	The United Nations Secretary General reported to the Security Council in October and urged Morocco to positively engage with the process by accepting and implementing the Baker peace plan. Subsequently, UN Security Council resolution 1513 was adopted unanimously, extending the mandate of MINURSO (the UN Mission for the Referendum in western Sahara) until 31 January 2004 to allow further consideration of the plan.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Morocco on (a) the continuing presence of troops and (b) human rights in the western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean visited Morocco on 15–17 September 2003. She discussed the situation in western Sahara with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister. Ministers and officials regularly call upon the parties to the western Sahara dispute to take action on human rights issues and raise specific cases as necessary. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, taking action with the appropriate authorities where necessary.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of France on its policy towards mineral exploitation in the western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: None.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had at the UN concerning the future of Minurso and the possibility of a referendum on the future of western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: Officials have been in contact with their United Nations counterparts over this issue, particularly in the lead up to the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1513 on 28 October 2003 which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2004.

World Service

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the most recent estimate is of the average daily number of listeners to BBC Radio World Service broadcasts.

Chris Mullin: The World Service announced in April 2003 a weekly global audience figure of 150 million, for its 43 language services (including English). Audience figures are measured weekly—as is the case with all international broadcasters—and it is not possible to calculate daily audiences from them. Figures are published once a year.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Annuities

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to prevent pensions administrators purchasing annuities; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the vast majority of cases, there is no tax requirement for occupational schemes to purchase an annuity, unlike personal pension plans. Just as the funding of the scheme is stipulated by the scheme rules, so the purchase of annuities is a matter for the administrators. They retain the flexibility of deciding how, when or if this should happen, and do so in consultation with members via the member-nominated trustees.

Care Homes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what rate of savings credit will be payable to (a) local authority-supported residents of residential care homes with income above the level of the guarantee credit and (b) other residents of residential care homes with income above the level of the guarantee credit; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Pension credit, including the savings credit, is calculated in the same way for residential care residents as it is for others, except that savings below £10,000 are disregarded for those in care homes (£6,000 for others).

Consultancy Contracts

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 204W, on consultancy contracts, if he will place in the Library a breakdown by individual contract value of each of the consultancy assignments.

Des Browne: The information requested is not collected in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Incapacity Benefit

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those claiming incapacity benefit are entitled to the same range of other benefits as those eligible for income support.

Maria Eagle: People in receipt of income support, including those receiving both income support and incapacity benefit, are entitled to a range of passported help such as council tax benefit or assistance with NHS charges. For people with income marginally higher than the threshold for income support, help may still be available on the grounds of low income.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus in London has met its targets for getting people into work in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 11 November 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question about whether Jobcentre Plus in London has met its targets in getting people into work in the last year. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus London Region exceeded its job entry points target for the operational year April 2002 to March 2003, the last year for which figures are available. Each successful job entry is given a points score and each Region given a target based on these scores. Details of this points system can be found in the Jobcentre Plus Business Plan 2003 a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. During 2002/03 Jobcentre Plus London Region achieved 902,193 points against its annual target of 846,085 points.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the position is of Jobcentre Plus proposals to reorganise services delivered from (a) Hendon and (b) Edgware Social Security office; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans Jobcentre Plus has to change the service provided at Hendon Social Security office through the social fund counter; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what progress Jobcentre Plus is making in providing premises for the proposed new JCP office to serve clients in Hendon; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 11 November 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning service delivery in Hendon and Edgware Social Security offices. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	North London District, including Hendon and Edgware Social Security offices, is planned to be converted to provide the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service in the operational year 2005/06. Initial plans are currently being formulated and a consultation process with all key stakeholders, including local MPs, will start in the next few weeks.
	At this stage, I cannot confirm the exact locations for Jobcentre Plus offices as this is subject to the current planning and consultation process. Local managers will be happy to discuss any questions you may still have about these plans as part of this consultation process.
	I hope this is helpful.

Maternity Allowance

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for maternity allowance were refused in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what the reasons were; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Maternity benefits are being reformed as part of the Government's drive to improve financial support for pregnant women and parents. The standard rate of Maternity Allowance (MA) was increased to £75 a week from April 2002, and has been increased further to £100 from April 2003.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		MA claims processed and awarded in each of the last two years
		
			 Period MA claims processed(8) MA awards(9) 
		
		
			 April 2001 to March 2002 66,310 54,500 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 68,225 53,700 
		
	
	(8) Figures for claims processed are rounded to the nearest five.
	(9) Figures for awards are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Notes:
	1. Accurate figures for claims processed prior to April 2001 are not available.
	2. Figures for awards take into consideration late notifications to the system, and may differ from previously published figures.
	3. Data are derived from two sources therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the number of claims that did not result in an award. However, the difference between the figures quoted would be indicative of the numbers involved.
	Sources:
	1. DWP Central Data Unit, 100 per cent. counts.
	2. DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. samples.

New Deal

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of public expenditure per full-time job set up under the New Deal programme since 1997.

Des Browne: Jobs are not set up under the New Deal programme as it is not a job creation programme. The New Deal exists to provide people with the confidence and skills necessary to compete in the labour market.
	In 2000, we estimated that the average cost of a young person moving into work through the New Deal for Young People was around £4,000. Cost benefit analysis published in June 2003 found that running the New Deal for Lone Parents in 2000–01 resulted in a net exchequer saving of £1,600 for each Lone Parent moving into work. Equivalent estimates of cost per job are not available for the other New Deal programmes.

Redundancy Payments

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employers made redundancy payments in excess of the legal minimum in 2002.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	Officials are unaware of any reliable statistics that show how many employers made redundancy payments in excess of the legal minimum in 2002. The latest survey commissioned by the Department for Trade and Industry on employers' redundancy practice showed that in the period October 2000 to February 2001 just under half (48 per cent.) of those employers who had made redundancies in the previous 12 months claimed to have made one or more specific improvements on the statutory entitlement. Over a fifth (22 per cent.) of employers reported that they gave more weeks payable per year of service than the legal minimum, while over a quarter (28 per cent.) said they paid a multiple of the minimum statutory payment.

Remploy

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what subsidy has been awarded to Remploy in each of the last four years.

Maria Eagle: Remploy receives a grant in aid each year to deliver part of our WORKSTEP programme to support disabled people in employment.
	The information is in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Grant in aid 
		
		
			 1999–2000 95.661 
			 2000–01 100.661 
			 2001–02 100.061 
			 2002–03 119.162

Stakeholder Pensions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), of 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 474W, on stakeholder pensions, if he will estimate how many new stakeholder pensions have been taken up by those with no earnings.

Malcolm Wicks: The information available is in the table:
	
		Stakeholder pensions: Number of individuals contributing(10) by status(11) and earned income(12)for year ending 5 April 2002
		
			  Individuals (thousand) 
		
		
			 Employees  
			 £0-£9,999 a year 170 
			 £10,000-£19,000 a year 300 
			 £20,000-£29,000 a year 150 
			 £30,000 a year upwards 60 
			 Total 680 
			   
			 Self employed  
			 £0-£9,999 a year 30 
			 £10, 000-£19, 000 a year 30 
			 £20,000-£29,000 a year 10 
			 £30,000 a year upwards 20 
			 Total 90 
			   
			 In receipt of a pension 10 
			 Child 20 
			 Full-time education — 
			 Carer — 
			 Unemployed 10 
			 Other 20 
			 Total 840 
		
	
	(10) The table refers to the number of individuals whose stakeholder pension has received a contribution during the year.
	(11) Status is largely based on what is reported by an individual when making their opening application, or for existing business by the provider.
	(12) Earned income is derived from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and consists of all income chargeable under Schedule E (mainly pay, private and occupational pensions, retirement annuities and state retirement pensions), Schedule D Cases I and II (self-employment income), and miscellaneous other earnings.
	Notes:
	1. The information in the table is taken from IR website statistics (Table T7.10.) It shows individuals contributing to a stakeholder pension, by status and earnings. The data are derived from a sample of annual returns of information submitted to the Inland Revenue by stakeholder pension providers. Numbers are rounded to nearest 10,000. Totals may not sum, due to rounding.
	2. The data are collected primarily for compliance purposes and contains details of contributions made by or on behalf of individuals.
	3. As well as containing individual details, such as name and date of birth, the data also contains their national insurance number. Using this it possible to aggregate across those who have arrangements with one or more providers. Therefore, unlike tables 7.4 and 7.5 which are based on aggregate returns from providers and are therefore at arrangement level, IR are able to present these results at an individual level. In addition the providers have to report the status of the individual
	in the following categories:
	Employee
	Pensioner
	Self-employed
	Child
	Carer of a child aged less than 16
	Carer of a person aged 16 or over
	In full-time education
	Unemployed
	Other
	4. Any individual making a gross contribution of £3,600 or less to a stakeholder pension from 6 April 2001 does not have to present evidence of earnings to the provider to whom they are making the contribution. Therefore in order to assess the earned income of contributors IR has matched the individual details provided where possible with the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) 2000–01.
	5. The SPI is a representative sample of nearly 200,000 individuals, drawn from the Revenue's Self Assessment, Pay As You Earn and Claims systems. Where IR has been able to match these individuals to the SPI, primarily those with earned income, the totals in the tables are based on this sample. For other groups that are unlikely to be in the SPI, such as children, IR has used the whole database directly to derive counts and amounts. For this latter group further analysis is limited to the data that providers have to submit.
	6. The table relates to the number of individuals who have a recorded contribution in the year—either individual, employer or minimum. While in theory the data should give details of all individuals, in practice due to incorrect or missing data less than 100 per cent. of records are available for analysis. To account for this the results in the tables have been scaled to known administrative totals.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Bullying

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reduce bullying in schools.

Ivan Lewis: Bullying is a serious issue which can affect young people's educational achievement and emotional well-being. The range of measures we are implementing reflects our determination to help schools tackle the problem.
	Tackling bullying is covered in the behaviour audit and training materials that we are making available to all secondary and middle schools through our Key Stage 3 strategy. These reinforce and extend the good practice guidance in our anti-bullying pack 'Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence' and our anti-bullying website (www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying).
	I recently launched a new public information film aimed at children and young people. The film is entitled "Tell Someone". It encourages pupils experiencing bullying to tell someone who can help rather than suffering in silence.
	Later this month I will be launching an anti-bullying charter which I hope as many schools as possible will sign and use. The charter is being drawn up in consultation with the professional associations and voluntary sector partners. It will be accompanied by a summary of effective practice to help schools review and enhance their anti-bullying policies.
	The charter will be launched at the first of a series of regional conferences. These conferences will involve schools, local education authorities and voluntary organisations. As well as raising awareness, they will celebrate and share good practice in tackling bullying.

Call Centres

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department plans to outsource call centre work to premises outside the United Kingdom.

Ivan Lewis: My Department has a small call centre operating from Runcorn. There are no plans to move it.

Education Expenditure

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure was as a share of GDP on (a) early years and childcare, (b) schools, including sixth forms, (c) support for young people, (d) higher education and (e) further education, adult learning and skills and lifelong learning in each financial year from 1992–93 to the end of the public expenditure planning cycle.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is only readily available from 1993–94. The figures in the following table show Central Government and local authority expenditure for England only while the GDP figures used are for the UK. The figures exclude expenditure on Children's Social Services, the resources for which were recently transferred to DfES. For 2003–04 to 2005–06, the local authority expenditure element for each category has been estimated.
	
		Percentage
		
			  1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Early Years & Childcare 0.20 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.24 
			 Schools, including 6th forms(13) 2.31 2.34 2.28 2.23 2.16 2.11 2.18 
			 Support for Young People(14) 0.15 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.15 0.15 
			 Further Education, adults etc.(15) 0.43 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.39 0.40 0.40 
			 Higher Education 0.92 0.93 0.86 0.78 0.74 0.70 0.70 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Early Years & Childcare 0.25 0.29 0.30 0.29 0.34 0.36 
			 Schools, including 6th forms (13) 2.25 2.45 2.54 2.75 2.77 2.84 
			 Support for Young People (14) 0.16 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.13 0.14 
			 Further Education, adults etc. (15) 0.43 0.58 0.63 0.66 0.67 0.67 
			 Higher Education 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.67 0.66 0.68 
		
	
	(13) Responsibility for 6th form funding was transferred to the LSC from local authorities in 2002–03.
	(14) Includes Work Based Training for Young People up to 2000–01. From 2001–02 the resources transferred to the LSC and are included in "Further Education".
	(15) Includes college based learning for young people and, from 2001–02, Work Based Training for Young People.

Education Inspections (Government Intervention)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list (a) those council education departments and (b) those council children's services in which there has been Government or ministerial intervention that would not otherwise have taken place, as a result of a critical inspection report or other evidence of service failure, in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The list of councils with social services responsibilities where there has been statutory intervention as a consequence of poorly performing children's services is as follows:
	London borough of Hackney in 1999 (under section 7 of the Local Authorities Act 1970)
	London borough of Lambeth in 2000 (under section 7 of the Local Authorities Act 1970)
	London borough of Hackney in 2000 (under section 7 of the Local Authorities Act 1970).
	The list of councils with social services responsibilities placed on "special measures" 1 as a consequence of poorly performing children's services is as follows:
	1997
	Cambridgeshire 2
	London borough of Ealing 2
	Kingston upon Hull 2
	1998
	Coventry 2
	London borough of Hackney 2
	Hillingdon 2
	Newcastle 2
	Peterborough 2
	Sheffield 2
	1999
	London borough of Lambeth 2
	North East Lincolnshire 2
	Wirral 2
	2001
	London borough of Haringey 2
	London borough of Merton 2
	Newham 2
	2002
	Birmingham
	London borough of Bromley
	Swindon
	Wakefield 2
	Walsall 2
	Coventry 2
	Bedfordshire
	London borough of Waltham Forest
	Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 2
	2003
	Cumbria
	Plymouth
	Oldham
	1 Councils are put on "special measures" to improve poorly performing services. When a council is on special measures the Department of Health receives quarterly reports of councils' progress against action plans. Special measures are designed so that councils have every opportunity, with the support of the Department's Social Services Inspectorate, to put their affairs in order. In May 2002 star ratings were introduced for social services. Since May 2002 councils awarded zero stars for their social services, the lowest marking, have been automatically placed on special measures; the list shows in 2002 and 2003 those "zero star" councils where children's services have been at issue.
	2 These 19 councils, out of the 27 placed on special measures since 1997, have improved (some with targeted external support since the advent of star ratings in May 2002) and are no longer on special measures.

Faith Schools

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) the number and (b) the percentage of faith schools in each local education authority was on 1 January.

David Miliband: The information is given in the table.
	
		
			 LEA LEA Name Total number of schools Schools with religious charater Percentage 
		
		
			 201 City of London 1 1 100.00 
			 202 Camden 56 23 41.07 
			 203 Greenwich 83 21 25.30 
			 204 Hackney 66 17 25.76 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 51 16 31.37 
			 206 Islington 58 18 31.03 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 32 17 53.13 
			 208 Lambeth 74 27 36.49 
			 209 Lewisham 90 24 26.67 
			 210 Southwark 93 30 32.26 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 93 22 23.66 
			 212 Wandsworth 84 21 25.00 
			 213 Westminster 50 31 62.00 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 59 8 13.56 
			 302 Barnet 114 41 35.96 
			 303 Bexley 87 17 19.54 
			 304 Brent 78 24 30.77 
			 305 Bromley 102 18 17.65 
			 306 Croydon 122 26 21.31 
			 307 Eating 85 13 15.29 
			 308 Enfield 88 21 23.86 
			 309 Haringey 80 24 30.00 
			 310 Harrow 70 II 15.71 
			 311 Havering 87 14 16.09 
			 312 Hillingdon 87 16 18.39 
			 313 Hounslow 79 13 16.46 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 50 18 36.00 
			 315 Merton 53 13 24.53 
			 316 Newham 86 12 13.95 
			 317 Redbridge 72 13 18.06 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 53 16 30.19 
			 319 Sutton 60 12 20.00 
			 320 Waltham Forest 88 11 12.50 
			 330 Birmingham 434 98 22.58 
			 331 Coventry 117 31 26.50 
			 332 Dudley 110 19 17.27 
			 333 Sandwell 116 20 17.24 
			 334 Solihull 86 24 27.91 
			 335 Walsall 121 25 20.66 
			 336 Wolverhampton 106 29 27.36 
			 340 Knowsley 80 35 43.75 
			 341 Liverpool 218 88 40.37 
			 342 St. Helens 73 35 47.95 
			 343 Sefton 117 55 47.01 
			 344 Wirral 134 36 26.87 
			 350 Bolton 123 54 43.90 
			 351 Bury 90 40 44.44 
			 352 Manchester 179 73 40.78 
			 353 Oldham 118 44 37.29 
			 354 Rochdale 95 36 37.89 
			 355 Salford 102 48 47.06 
			 356 Stockport 118 31 26.27 
			 357 Tameside 99 35 35.35 
			 358 Trafford 97 27 27.84 
			 359 Wigan 143 82 57.34 
			 370 Barnsley 101 20 19.80 
			 371 Doncaster 132 22 16.67 
			 372 Rotherham 133 21 15.79 
			 373 Sheffield 188 26 13.83 
			 380 Bradford 189 52 27.51 
			 381 Calderdale 104 31 29.81 
			 382 Kirklees 189 59 31.22 
			 383 Leeds 298 76 25.50 
			 384 Wakefield 157 33 21.02 
			 390 Gateshead 92 22 23.91 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 93 25 26.88 
			 392 North Tyneside 76 13 17.11 
			 393 South Tyneside 74 19 25.68 
			 394 Sunderland 116 22 18.97 
			 420 Isles Of Scilly Bath and North East 1 1 100.00 
			 800 Somerset 88 39 44.32 
			 801 Bristol City of 143 29 20.28 
			 802 North Somerset 78 31 39.74 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 115 38 33.04 
			 805 Hartlepool 38 12 31.58 
			 806 Middlesbrough 63 13 20.63 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 67 12 17.91 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 82 26 31.71 
			 810 Kingston upon Hull City of 95 13 13.68 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 156 49 31.41 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 75 11 14.67 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 86 23 26.74 
			 815 North Yorkshire 385 171 44.42 
			 816 York 69 19 27.54 
			 820 Bedfordshire 211 49 23.22 
			 821 Luton 74 9 12.16 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 233 71 30.47 
			 826 Milton 109 13 11.93 
			 830 Derbyshire 411 126 30.66 
			 831 Derby 97 13 13.40 
			 835 Dorset 185 99 53.51 
			 836 Poole 42 7 16.67 
			 837 Bournemouth 41 13 31.71 
			 840 Durham 293 68 23.21 
			 841 Darlington 43 11 25.58 
			 845 East 192 79 41.15 
			 846 Brighton 73 16 21.92 
			 850 Hampshire 535 131 24.49 
			 851 Portsmouth 68 8 11.76 
			 852 Southampton 86 11 12.79 
			 855 Leicestershire 283 106 37.46 
			 856r Leicester 111 11 9.91 
			 857 Ruthland 20 12 60.00 
			 860 Staffordshire 400 145 36.25 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 103 30 29.13 
			 865 Wiltshire 259 156 60.23 
			 866 Swindon 82 12 14.63 
			 867 Bracknell 39 10 25.64 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 59 29 49.15 
			 869 West Berkshire 79 34 43.04 
			 870 Reading 48 9 18.75 
			 871 Slough 43 10 23.26 
			 872 Workingham 64 18 28.13 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 247 68 27.53 
			 874 Peterborough 79 16 20.25 
			 875 Cheshire 350 105 30.00 
			 876 Halton 64 23 35.94 
			 877 Warrington 85 35 41.18 
			 878 Devon 375 125 33.33 
			 879 Plymouth 101 16 15.84 
			 880 Torbay 44 14 31.82 
			 881 Essex 577 153 26.52 
			 882 Southend 60 7 11.67 
			 883 Thurrock 62 8 12.90 
			 884 Herefordshire 102 44 43.14 
			 885 Worcestershire 259 111 42.86 
			 886 Kent 600 204 34.00 
			 887 Medway 113 19 16.81 
			 888 Lancashire 610 327 53.61 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 74 38 51.35 
			 890 Blackpool 41 14 34.15 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 368 81 22.01 
			 892 Nottingham 122 15 12.30 
			 893 Shropshire 165 86 52.12 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 86 17 19.77 
			 908 Cornwall 278 48 17.27 
			 909 Cumbria 335 142 42.39 
			 916 Gloucestershire 307 119 38.76 
			 919 Hertfordshire 522 139 26.63 
			 921 Isle of Wight 68 25 36.76 
			 925 Lincolnshire 371 134 36.12 
			 926 Norfolk 450 130 28.89 
			 928 Northamptonshire 343 102 29.74 
			 929 Northumberland 212 51 24.06 
			 931 Oxfordshire 294 143 48.64 
			 933 Somerset 272 131 48.16 
			 935 Suffolk 342 109 31.87 
			 936 Surrey 403 125 31.02 
			 937 Warwickshire 245 98 40.00 
			 938 West Sussex 308 103 33.44 
			 970 England 22407 6933 30.94 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Includes primary, middle deemed primary, middle deemed secondary, secondary maintainedschools, CTCs, Academies but not maintained special schools.
	2. Includes maintained primary, middle deemed primary, middle deemed secondary and secondary schools but not CTCs and Academies (which, being independent schools, cannot be designated as having a religious character until December 2003) or maintained special schools.

Gap Year

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from (a) schools, (b) parents and (c) pupils about the intentions of Year 12 or lower 6th students expecting to complete 'A' levels in summer 2005 and considering whether to take a gap year in 2005–06.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 5 November 2003
	The Department for Education and Skills has not received any direct representations from schools, parents or pupils about young people's gap year intentions for 2005/06 although we are aware of some concerns from education and voluntary organisations about the possible impact of changes to tuition fees in 2006 on gap year take-up. We have no plans to introduce any special arrangements for those young people deferring entry to higher education in 2005 in order to take a gap year since students will have had three years' notice of the funding changes. We will abolish upfront payment of fees and introduce loans for fees which students repay after graduation only when they are earning a reasonable salary. We will introduce a £1,000 Higher Education Grant from 2004, to be paid to the poorest 30 per cent. of students. We will also continue to pay the standard fee (currently £1,125) for students from poorer backgrounds.

GCSEs

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of 15 and 16-year-olds in (a) Somerset and (b) England were entered for GCSE examinations in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what proportion of 15 and 16-year-olds in (a) Somerset and (b) England achieved (i) five or more A* to C GCSE grades and (ii) five or more GCSE passes in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Academic year Percentage of 15(16)-year-old pupils who entered for one or more GCSE/GNVQ Percentage of 15(16)-year-olds achieving five or more gradesA*-C GCSE/GNVQ Percentage of 15(16)-year-olds achieving five or more gradesA*-G GCSE/GNVQ 
		
		
			  Somerset figures  
			 1997 96.5 48.9 92.5 
			 1998 97.5 51.2 92.3 
			 1999 97.5 52.7 93.7 
			 2000 97.6 55.3 93.4 
			 2001 97.6 54.7 93.0 
			 2002 98.0 54.8 92.7 
			  2003 (provisional)96.9 54.8 90.2 
			 
			  England figures  
			 1997 94.0 45.1 86.4 
			 1998 94.8 46.3 87.5 
			 1999 95.0 47.9 88.5 
			 2000 95.5 49.2 88.9 
			 2001 95.7 50.0 88.9 
			 2002 95.9 51.6 88.9 
			  2003 (provisional)96.0 52.6 88.6 
		
	
	(16) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year ie 31 August.

Gifted Pupils

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used to allocate funding for gifted pupils.

David Miliband: Funding for gifted and talented education is used to support area-based programmes in disadvantaged areas, regional support through the London Challenge and a range of national resources that are universally available, notably the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.
	The area-based programmes— provided through Excellence in Cities, Excellence Clusters and Aim Higher—benefit urban LEAs and smaller pockets of disadvantage, some in suburban and rural areas. Each school uses this funding to support their most able 5–10 per cent. of pupils, so the measure of ability is relative to the school.
	In addition to benefiting from national resources, LEAs and schools outside these areas are encouraged to use generic funding to support gifted and talented education.

Industrial Action

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many hours have been lost to industrial action in (a) schools and (b) local education authority offices in each year since 1990.

David Miliband: The Department does not hold information about hours lost to industrial action in schools or local education authority offices.

LEA Partnerships

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have sought authority to create partnerships with private companies to deliver additional resources for schools and colleges in their areas; which companies are involved in each area; and how much has been contributed to each educational institution.

David Miliband: Local education authorities are free to contract out a wide range of their statutory functions to private companies. They are not required to seek authority to do so, and the Department has not conducted a comprehensive survey of such partnerships. The information requested is therefore not available.

Learndirect

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the UK online centres in Amber Valley; and which centres provide access to LearnDirect courses.

Charles Clarke: UK online centres provide people with access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). There are six UK online centres in Amber valley. These are as follows:
	Read On Write Away (a mobile bus taking ICT facilities to rural, socio-economically deprived areas of Derbyshire)
	The Bridge Centre, Langley Mill
	Ironville Training Centre, Ironville
	Alfreton Hall Adult Education Centre
	Groundworks toolbox (formerly the Amber Valley Environ Centre)
	Belper Adult Community Education Centre
	Alfreton Hall Adult Education Centre is a learndirect centre in addition to being a UK online centre. Of the centres that do not offer learndirect courses themselves, the Bridge Centre, Ironville Training Centre, and Belper Adult Community Education Centre refer their learners on to a local learndirect centre. Read On Write Away is currently developing a referral system with the UK online Regional Manager at Ufi.

Local Education Authorities

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many registered teachers worked for local education authorities in a non teaching capacity in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: This information is not held centrally.

Public Service Agreements

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants his Department employed to meet each of his Department's public service agreements in each year since 2001.

Charles Clarke: The number of civil servants employed by my Department in 2003 to meet its public service agreements is 5,020 (including 640 staff who work in the Government Office network). The number in 2002 was 4,820 (including 650 Government Office staff).
	The numbers are not broken down by public service agreements (PSAs) as one aspect of the Department's work often contributes to the achievement of several PSAs. However, the numbers of civil servants in each of the Department's policy directorates over this period are given in the following table. Many of the remaining staff, although not located within a policy directorate, provide direct support.
	
		
			 Policy directorate 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Schools 1,385 1,602 
			 Lifelong Learning 681 661 
			 Youth 336 376 
		
	
	The numbers in Schools Directorate include staff who work on Sure Start and Children and Young People's issues.

Qualifications

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has collated into the relative cost-effectiveness of public expenditure on (a) improving basic skills, (b) achieving level 2 qualifications, (c) achieving level 3 qualifications and (d) achieving level 4 qualifications.

Ivan Lewis: The document "Education and Skills: The Economic Benefit" published by DfES in May 2003 presents both Government and wider research undertaken into the economic benefits of public expenditure on education. It highlights the social and economic value of education and skills, from a basic skills level to first degree, in terms of earnings, employment and social benefits.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers.

Charles Clarke: The Department does not have powers of the type referred to by my hon. Friend and consequently there will not be any powers superseded by the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.
	The Department may have powers that are similar in effect (such as section 497B of the Education Act 1996—a right in specified circumstances to inspect and take copies of documents held by a local authority), however, collating a full response on such powers will not be possible on grounds of disproportionate cost.

School Budgets

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of using (a) KPMG and (b) the National College for School Leadership to develop guidance and support to help schools' budget management.

Charles Clarke: £1.5 million is being made available for this programme in the remaining months of the current financial year. This covers the joint development and delivery by KPMG and NCSL of a range of support for schools, including online materials, workshops and consultancy services. No decisions have yet been made about the level of funding in 2004–05.

School Meals

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice he gives to education authorities concerning the content and quality of school meals.

Stephen Twigg: In April 2001, the Government introduced regulations which set minimum nutritional standards for school lunches. They were accompanied by guidance entitled "Healthy School Lunches", which is available for school caterers, heads and others implementing the standards. The guidance on the standards is available on the DfES website: www. dfes.gov.uk/schoollunches

Schools (Behaviour)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what has been spent since 1997 on projects to improve behaviour in schools.

Ivan Lewis: Funding for behaviour improvement in schools comes from a wide variety of sources and is aggregated to varying degrees with funding for other activities. It is therefore impossible to give a discrete total. The School Inclusion: Pupil Support grant provided about £560 million in Government grant and LEA contributions between 1999 and 2003. But this gave schools funding to tackle pupil disaffection more widely and was not just for behaviour improvement initiatives.
	In 2003–04 the Government will be allocating over £90 million to schools as part of its national behaviour and attendance strategy. This builds on the £50 million provided to targeted schools and LEAs through the Behaviour Improvement Programme in 2002–03.

Small Businesses

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to recognise and accredit within the reformed qualifications framework the informal learning and development achievements of employees of small businesses.

Ivan Lewis: There are nearly 4,000 qualifications currently accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Awarding bodies are currently able to accept evidence from diverse sources of learning and achievement in assessing individual candidates, irrespective of the size of organisation within which they might work. For learning that does not lead to qualifications, and following the commitment given in "21st Century Skills Realising Our Potential" to develop a credit framework for adults, we have written to both the QCA and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 9 September 2003. The LSC has been asked to review the credit systems currently operating outside the NQF and to identify how the application of credit to this provision might bring incremental award for learning achievement, drive quality and flexibility in further education and how such credit might be developed to provide progression into the NQF and higher education.

Small Businesses

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to respond to the needs of small businesses in his reform of the qualifications framework.

Ivan Lewis: The National Qualifications Framework is currently capable of responding to a variety of needs of employers and it already contains qualifications that are directly relevant to the needs of small businesses. I have, however, asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to lead on joint work with the Learning and Skills Council and the Sector Skills Development Agency to develop a system of vocational qualifications which has the flexibility to meet individual and employer needs. The QCA will also continue with their work to develop a fully unitised qualifications system. This will provide a flexible framework of qualifications that will enable employers of all sizes to identify packages of learning appropriate to their needs. Units will be capable of certification and individuals will be able to build their achievements over time.

Standard Assessment Tasks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14-year-olds in Somerset were eligible to sit Key Stage 3 tests in 2002–03.

David Miliband: The total numbers of Key Stage 3 eligible pupils in 2002 and 2003 in Somerset were:
	
		
			  Number of eligible pupils 
		
		
			 2003 (provisional) 5,919 
			 2002 5,931

Standard Assessment Tasks

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in (a) Somerset and (b) England gained Level 5 or above in their Key Stage Three tests in (i) English and (ii) mathematics in each year since 1996–97.

David Miliband: The percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 or above at Key Stage 3 in (a) Somerset LEA and (b) England in (i) English and (ii) mathematics from 1997 onwards are:
	
		Percentage
		
			  (a) Somerset LEA (b) England 
			 Year (i) English (ii) Maths (i) English (ii) Maths 
		
		
			 2003(17) 70 74 68 70 
			 2002 70 71 67 67 
			 2001 67 71 65 66 
			 2000 65 69 64 65 
			 1999 70 67 64 62 
			 1998 68 64 65 59 
			 1997 62 66 57 60 
		
	
	(17) Provisional

St Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will change the present categorising of St. Helenan students as overseas students and treat them in the same way as EU students.

Alan Johnson: We have no plans to change the present categorising of St. Helenan students as overseas students.

Student Finance

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to support undergraduate students who incur greater debts than other students as a result of their courses being longer than three years.

Alan Johnson: The Government provide support to meet the essential living costs of students. If courses take four or five years, student loans are available on the same favourable income contingent repayment terms as for the first three years. Graduates only repay their loans when they can afford to do so.

Student Finance

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of student loans have been defaulted in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: The table shows borrowers with loan accounts in arrears as a percentage of all borrowers with mortgage style loans in repayment status at the end of financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. Data for earlier years are not available.
	
		
			 Financial year In arrears (percentage) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 10 
			 2000–01 10 
			 2001–02 9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The table is based on a snapshot of data at 31 March of each financial year. Accounts may move in or out of arrears status during the year, and may leave repayment status during the year, such as when the loan is paid in full.
	2. The table covers borrowers with mortgage style loans only; income contingent loans have been excluded. Includes both publicly and privately owned debt.
	3. Excludes borrowers in deferment with arrears.
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	From September 1998, most new entrants to higher education have income contingent loans. Apart from a few exceptions, repayments are collected through the tax system, mostly by employers through PAYE, and therefore the concept of default does not apply.

Teachers (Violent Attacks)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to local education authorities on their responsibility to pursue action against an individual who carries out a violent attack on a member of their staff;
	(2)  how many UK teachers have reported a violent attack upon their person by pupils in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  what action the Government are taking to reduce the level of violent attacks upon teachers.

Ivan Lewis: I deplore any attacks on teachers or other local education authority staff. They have a right to work in conditions free from intimidation and violence.
	The number of serious injuries to school teachers in Great Britain caused by physical violence reported to the Health and Safety Executive is as follows:
	1996/97—83
	1997/98—119
	1998/99—124
	1999/2000—135
	2000/01—135
	2001/02—110.
	These figures cover injuries resulting in more than three days' absence from work. They are not available for earlier years.
	Last year we published "A legal toolkit for schools", which provides advice to schools and local education authorities on legal remedies that are available when school staff experience problems with violent parents. Some of these remedies are also available when dealing with violent pupils. Earlier this year we published "Improving Behaviour and Attendance: Guidance on Exclusion from Schools and Pupil Referral Units", which makes clear that head teachers can permanently exclude pupils responsible for violence. In addition, the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will enable LEAs to apply for court-imposed Parenting Orders for parents whose children have been excluded from school for serious misbehaviour. Breach of the Order will be an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000.

Teaching Unions (Bilateral Meetings)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last held a bilateral meeting with the (a) National Association of Schoolmasters/ Union of Women Teachers, (b) Secondary Heads Association, (c) National Union of Teachers, (d) National Association of Head Teachers, (e) Professional Association of Teachers and (f) Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend holds a variety of meetings with the teacher associations.

Truancy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the level of secondary school truancy was in (a) the constituency of Romford and (b) each other London borough in 2002/03.

Ivan Lewis: The percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in secondary schools in Romford was 0.9 per cent. in 2002/03. This shows no change from the 2001/02 level.
	Truancy in London secondary schools fell to 1.3 per cent. in 2002/03 from 1.5 per cent. in 2001/02. This is equivalent to a reduction of some 700 truants. Information for all London boroughs, including the levels of truancy in 2001/02, is shown in the table.
	
		Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in maintained secondary schools in London, 2001/02 and 2002/03
		
			  2002/03 2001/02 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1.9 2.0 
			 Barnet 1.0 0.9 
			 Bexley 0.7 1.2 
			 Brent 0.8 0.7 
			 Bromley 1.1 1.1 
			 Camden 1.6 1.4 
			 Croydon 1.1 0.7 
			 Ealing 0.9 1.0 
			 Enfield 1.9 1.9 
			 Greenwich 2.4 2.5 
			 Hackney 2.1 2.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1.8 1.8 
			 Haringey 2.2 2.4 
			 Harrow 0.5 0.7 
			 Havering 0.6 0.6 
			 Hillingdon 1.6 1.5 
			 Hounslow 1.0 1.1 
			 Islington 1.5 1.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1.7 1.9 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 0.5 0.6 
			 Lambeth 0.6 1.0 
			 Lewisham 2.2 2.7 
			 Merton 1.3 1.2 
			 Newham 1.6 2.1 
			 Redbridge 0.7 0.7 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 2.1 2.5 
			 Southwark 1.8 1.7 
			 Sutton 0.7 0.9 
			 Tower Hamlets 2.0 2.4 
			 Waltham Forest 1.4 1.7 
			 Wandsworth 1.6 1.3 
			 Westminster, City of 1.6 1.8 
			 London 1.3 1.5

Tuition Fees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the cost of plans for remission of tuition and top-up fees for universities in financial years (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

Alan Johnson: The cost to the Government of the public contribution to existing tuition fee remission arrangements for home and EU undergraduate students at institutions in England is estimated at:
	
		
			 Financial year £ million 
		
		
			 2003–04 456 
			 2004–05 467 
			 2005–06 479

Tuition Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  in what circumstances the ability of universities to charge top-up fees will be withdrawn; and by what process;
	(2)  how he proposes to address the funding consequences of universities which have their ability to charge top-up fees withdrawn.

Alan Johnson: We expect most access agreements to work satisfactorily. Where OFFA has concerns about an agreement, it will raise these formally with the institution. If these concerns are not addressed, OFFA will ask the institution what further actions it proposes. If OFFA remains unsatisfied, the sanctions available will include withholding approval for an institution to charge variable fees, when the access agreement comes up for renewal or, where urgent action is needed, informing the institution that it intends to impose a financial penalty. The institution will bear the financial consequences of any breaches.

Tuition Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of his proposed variable tuition fees regime on each university in England and Wales in respect of (a) social access, (b) the mix of courses offered, (c) employment patterns and (d) the balance of teaching and research undertaken;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential impact of variable tuition fees on (a) science courses and (b) arts courses.

Alan Johnson: It will be for higher education institutions themselves to decide what level of fees they set for each of their courses from 2006/07 onwards, subject to a maximum fee of £3,000. I would expect them to consider a range of factors in doing so, including the likely impact of their decisions. The Office for Fair Access must approve an access agreement, including arrangements for bursaries and outreach, before an institution can charge higher fees. It will also monitor the agreements and, if necessary, take proportionate sanctions in the unlikely event of a serious breach. Since decisions on fee levels have yet to be taken, it is not feasible to assess their impact, either on individual universities or subjects. However, the additional income from variable fees will boost universities' power to develop high-quality, greater and more flexible provision and to widen access to higher education.

Tuition Fees

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of university courses that are likely to charge the maximum fee after 2006/07.

Alan Johnson: It will be for higher education institutions themselves to decide what level of fees they set for each of their courses from 2006/07 onwards, subject to a maximum fee of £3,000 and approval of their access agreements by the Office of Fair Access.

University Funding

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Government have made of the impact each £100 million raised for universities would have if raised by additions to (a) basic rate income tax, (b) basic rate national insurance payable by individuals and businesses, (c) income tax paid by higher rate taxpayers only and (d) national insurance paid by individuals and businesses in respect of higher rate taxpayers only.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to table T1.6 "Direct effects of illustrative tax changes" on the Inland Revenue website. http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax expenditures/g t06 1.htm
	National insurance contributions are levied on a different basis from that for income tax. They are based on earnings, rather than taxable income, and the relevant earnings limits are different to those for income tax. Table T1.6 illustrates the effects of varying certain rates of national insurance contributions.

Working Tax Credit

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of the child care element of the working tax credit in (a) Derbyshire and (b) Amber Valley.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of families in each region, local authority and constituency receiving help with child care costs through tax credits at November 2002, and the average weekly amount of help, are shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical Analysis".
	The equivalent figures for each region at October 2003 are shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Quarterly Statistics".
	These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue web site, under www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	The number of families in east Midlands receiving such help grew by nearly 60 per cent. between these two dates.
	However, the figures for October 2003 are based on a sample of cases. The sample is too small to yield reliable estimates of the number of families in each local authority and constituency receiving help with child care costs at that date. Such figures based on an analysis of all working tax credit awards will be published next year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-social Behaviour

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comparative studies his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on an international scale in connection with anti-social behaviour with particular reference to (i) its causation, (ii) its rate of occurrence, (iii) its prevention and (iv) the rehabilitation of perpetrators.

Hazel Blears: The Home Department has not undertaken or commissioned specific comparative research on the causes of anti-social behaviour, its prevention, rate of occurrence, or rehabilitation of perpetrators. However, it takes part in the International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS), which provides two relevant indicators: car vandalism, and feelings of unsafety on the streets. The ICVS is a fully standardised survey that has been conducted most recently in 2000. It provided comparable data for 17 industrialised countries. Results are in "Criminal Victimisation in Seventeen Countries", by Kesteren J V, Mayhew P and Nieuwbeerta P, The Hague: Ministry of Justice (2000). A copy is in the Library.
	The 2000 ICVS showed that 11 per cent. of vehicle owners in England and Wales were victims of car vandalism, compared to an average rate of victimisation of 7.8 per cent. for all 17 countries participating in the survey. England and Wales had the third highest rate of victimisation of car vandalism of the 17 countries. On feelings of safety after dark, the 2000 ICVS showed that 27 per cent. of those in England and Wales felt 'a bit or very unsafe', compared to the average of 23 per cent.
	A module is to be included in the Home Office Crime and Justice Survey in 2004 on gang membership. The data collected will be comparable with results from surveys in other European countries, although these are independently conducted.

Association of Chief Constables

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Association of Chief Constables to discuss crime reduction strategies.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have frequent bilaterals with the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the discussions cover a very wide range of policing and crime reduction issues.

Botulinium Toxin

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many laboratory animals were used in potency testing of batches of botulinium toxin for human use in each year since 2000, indicating the end points used in the tests conducted; and if he will make a statement on the steps the Government are taking (a) to reduce the number of animals used in each batch test and (b) to ensure the most humane end points are used.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of animals used for potency testing of botulinium toxin for human use is not recorded separately in the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals which is published annually by the Home Office (copies of the latest publication, for the year 2002, are in the House Library—Command 5886). Figures for pharmaceutical safety/efficacy testing are included in Table 10 of the Statistics, which also includes data from testing other pharmaceutical and safety products. It is not possible from the format of the data to identify the number of animals used in testing a particular substance or product.
	Procedures are ended in each case as soon as the scientific objective is achieved, which is usually when the onset of relevant clinical signs are observed. Animals are humanely killed to avoid any undue suffering.
	Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 the Home Office can only license the use of animals when the scientific purpose cannot be achieved satisfactorily by any other reasonably practicable method not involving the use of animals. The Home Office has to be satisfied that the proposed procedure uses the minimum numbers of animals, of the lowest degree of neurophysiological sensitivity, and causes the least amount of pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm and is the most likely to produce satisfactory results. This reflects the principles of the 3Rs—the refinement of scientific procedures, reduction in the number of animals used and their replacement wherever possible.
	Special conditions are tailored to each project licence in order to control or minimise pain or suffering. Animals in scientific procedures are carefully monitored by licensees, named animal care and welfare officers and animal care staff to ensure that agreed humane endpoints are implemented. In addition a named veterinary surgeon must always be available for advice.
	Schedule 1 of the Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 sets out the appropriate methods of humane killing of animals used in scientific procedures.
	The potency testing of botulinium toxin licensed under the 1986 Act is solely for pharmaceutical purposes, in relation to use of the substance as a prescription only medicine.

Botulinium Toxin

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to encourage the (a) development, (b) validation and (c) use of replacement alternatives for the in vivo potency testing in the United Kingdom of batches of botulinium toxin for use for (i) clinical and (ii) cosmetic purposes.

Caroline Flint: The animal testing of botulinium toxin, licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, is required and conducted solely in relation to its use for clinical purposes as a prescription only medicine. The Home Office does not license animal testing of this substance for use in cosmetic treatments.
	Under the 1986 Act the Home Office can only license the use of animals for scientific purposes where there is no non-animal alternative, and then only when both the number of animals and their suffering is minimised. This reflects the principles of the 3Rs—the refinement of scientific procedures, reduction in the number of animals used and their replacement wherever possible.
	No alternative to using animals has regrettably yet been developed to test the safety and efficacy of botulinium toxin for therapeutic medical purposes. Refinement of the test has, however, been the subject of useful research undertaken some years ago under a Home Office grant administered by the Animal Procedures Committee (as recorded in that Committee's published report for 1992—Command 2301).
	The Government fully supports and encourages the general development and promotion of the 3Rs in a number of ways. It is involved in the validation of alternatives at the ED level, and seeks to take forward related matters through the Inter-Departmental Group on the 3Rs. It is estimated that the total spent by the UK Government and its funding agencies, on research into and development of alternatives, is between £2 and £10 million each year.
	However, most work on the search for and development of alternatives to using animals in scientific procedures is neither done by Government nor with Government money—it is conducted and funded by the research community itself, which spends many millions of pounds on it each year. We must continue to look mainly to the scientist community itself to come up with viable alternatives in specific areas such as the type of regulatory toxin testing subject of this Question.

Botulinium Toxin

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulatory requirements govern the use of botulinium toxin for cosmetic purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 the Home Office regulates the testing on live animals of botulinium toxin for clinical purposes as a prescription-only medicine. The Home Office does not license the use of animals for the testing of cosmetic treatments or products.
	The use of botulinium toxin for cosmetic treatments, for which it is not licensed or tested, is not a matter over which the Home Office has any control. Regulation of the different uses made of botulinium toxin is a matter for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health, to whom further inquiries on this aspect should be addressed.

Burial Grounds

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research into the potential need for the re-use of burial grounds has been commissioned by the Government since 1997; what the cost of that research has been; and where and when it has been published.

Paul Goggins: We have not commissioned specific research into the need to re-use old graves. In accordance with the commitment in our response to the recommendations of the Environment Select Committee's eighth report on cemeteries, we will shortly be publishing a consultation document on the reform of burial legislation generally, including the case for the re-use of old graves.

Cannabis

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the research into how the users of higher class drugs start drug taking; and what the role (a) other drugs and (b) cannabis have had as gateways.

Caroline Flint: There is no available research evidence that examines specifically how Class A drugs users start using drugs and distinguishes this group from other drug users.
	There have been no recent UK studies that have looked specifically at cannabis as a gateway drug. However, some analysis has been undertaken which examines wider progression from one group of drugs to another. This analysis used the 1998–99 Youth Lifestyles Survey, which questioned 3,700 young people aged between12–30 years.
	The analysis examined progression from a group of drugs including cannabis, LSD, amphetamines, amyl nitrate and magic mushrooms to a group of highly dangerous drugs, including heroin, crack and methadone. When social and psychological factors, such as disturbed family background and disadvantaged location were taken into account, little evidence was found for a gateway effect caused by use of the first group of drugs.
	This analysis can be found in Home Office Research Study 253 entitled: 'The Road to Ruin? Sequences of Initiation into Drug Use and Offending by Young People in Britain'. Copies of this report can be found in the Library.

Cannabis

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage cannabis users represented of total drug users in the UK in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The table shows the percentage of total drug users in the last year that have used cannabis. This table also shows the percentage of total drug users in the last year that have used cannabis only. These figures are taken from the British Crime Survey, undertaken in 1998, 2000 and 2001–02.
	
		Cannabis use by drug users in the last year
		
			  Percentage 
			  Any cannabis use Cannabis use only 
		
		
			 1998 87 53 
			 2000 89 55 
			 2001–02 89 59

Cantle Report/Denham Report

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which recommendations of the (a) Cantle report and (b) Denham report on public order and community cohesion have been implemented; and what assessment he has made of the effect on communities of implementing those recommendations;
	(2)  how the implementation of the recommendations of the (a) Denham Report and (b) Cantle report is being monitored.

Fiona Mactaggart: Cantle report recommendations have been implemented in relation to citizenship, the formation of a community cohesion task force and inter-agency support groups, guidance for local authorities, positive activities for young people and cultural sensitivity in schools. Among the report's recommendations for action at local level, progress continues to be made on mainstreaming community cohesion into local delivery frameworks, as well as on youth parliaments, cross-cultural youth services, school twinning and regeneration.
	Denham report proposals have been implemented in relation to the establishment of an independent panel, conflict resolution and community facilitation, the measurement of community cohesion, housing choices, youth work, positive activities for young people, and hate crime. Progress is being made to mainstream community cohesion into Government policies relating to education and employment, neighbourhood renewal and regeneration, policing, Local Strategic Partnerships, community strategies and local political leadership.
	Recommendations in the Cantle report which have not been taken forward by the Government include the setting of admission targets for mono-cultural schools.
	The effect on communities of initiatives to improve community cohesion are being measured via the Home Office citizenship survey. No data are yet available from this. In July 2003, the Home Office issued detailed guidance to local authorities and their partners on how to measure community cohesion. The Home Office Community Cohesion Unit, supported by the independent Community Cohesion Panel, monitors the implementation of the Cantle and Denham recommendations through its work with other Departments, Government Offices and local authorities.

Community Cohesion Programme

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent in Leeds west under the community cohesion programme.

Fiona Mactaggart: Community cohesion lies at the heart of what makes a safe and strong community and is a key outcome for both local and central government. Developing more cohesive communities depends on mainstreaming community cohesion in all policies and programmes.
	There is no separate community cohesion funding programme. Many different Government programmes contribute to community cohesion. Information is not readily available on spend by specific constituencies.
	An example of a cross-cutting programme in Yorkshire and the Humber that has benefited Leeds was its allocation of £85,000 in 2001–02 and £75,000 in 2002–03 for community facilitation and mediation services. This programme was funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.

Crime Reduction Targets

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards targets on reducing (a) vehicle crime, (b) domestic burglary and (c) robbery.

Hazel Blears: Our targets are to reduce:
	vehicle crime by 30 per cent. between 1999 and 2004;
	domestic burglary by 25 per cent. between 1999 and 2005; and
	robbery in the ten Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999 to2000–05 and maintain those levels.
	Progress on burglary and vehicle crime is measured using the British Crime Survey (BCS); but recorded crime is used for robbery.
	(a) BCS 2000 showed that there were 2,942,000 vehicle crimes in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 2,319,000 vehicles thefts a reduction of 21 per cent. This is on track to meet the vehicle crime target.
	(b) There were 1,261,000 domestic burglaries in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 936,000 domestic burglaries—a reduction of just over 25 per cent.
	(c) Since the robbery target was set, there were sharp rises in recorded robbery in 2000–01 and 2001–02. In response to these, the Government launched the Street Crime Initiative in March 2002. There was a 17 per cent. reduction in recorded robbery in the ten street crime areas in 2002–03, compared with 2001–02.

Cyclists

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure enforcement of road traffic regulations against cyclists.

Caroline Flint: Individual chief officers of police are best placed to assess the nature and cause of specific local problems, to determine how most effectively to address them and to decide the best allocation of resources.
	In response to public concern, we made cycling on the pavement a fixed penalty offence from 1 August 1999. This gave the police a direct and simple way of dealing with cyclists who ride without proper consideration for others. We have now extended the power to issue fixed penalty notices for this offence to police community support officers.

Drugs

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average sentence served for drug-related offences is of existing (a) female and (b) male prisoners.

Paul Goggins: The average time served for persons discharged from prison in 2002 on completion of determinate sentences for drugs offences was:
	(a) 16.8 months for females
	(b) 18.6 months for males.
	The average time served includes any time spent remanded in custody.

Ethnic Minority Staff

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of Home Office employees are from an ethnic minority.

Fiona Mactaggart: Of employees who have filled in a voluntary ethnic monitoring form, the following percentages are of an ethnic minority or mixed race:
	Central Home Office—24.7 per cent.
	Her Majesty's Prison Service—6.5 per cent.
	Forensic Science Service—12.4 per cent.
	UK Passport Agency—15.0 per cent.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of exchanges, training and co-operation between law enforcement authorities (OISIN) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the joint action establishing a programme of exchanges, training and co-operation for persons responsible for action to combat organised crime during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children (STOP) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of incentives and exchanges for legal practitioners (Grotius general and criminal) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for the prevention of crime (Hippocrates) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the programme of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum and immigration and the crossing of external borders (Odysseus) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of the community action programme on preventative measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women (Daphne) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present at each meeting; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present; when the Committee is next due to meet; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The STOP II, Oisin II, Falcone, Hippocrates and Grotius (general and criminal) funding programmes expired in 2002. Their Management Committees last met on 23 and 24 July 2002 to agree the successful projects for funding for that year. They have since been replaced by a single funding programme known as AGIS.
	The AGIS Management Committee met during the Danish and Greek Presidencies on 16 October 2002 to plan the logistics of the new programme; on 21 November 2002 to discuss the draft annual work programme and call for bids for 2003; and on 28 May 2003 to discuss the evaluation of bids for 2003. The Home Office held preparatory meetings to discuss the UK's position in the Committee on 27 September 2002 and 18 November 2002.
	The Odysseus funding programme also expired in 2002 and has been replaced by a funding programme known as ARGO. The ARGO Management Committee met on 1 July 2002 to discuss the Committee's draft rules of procedure and the draft annual work programme for 2002. It met again on 3 December 2002 to discuss the bids to be selected for funding in 2002 and the draft annual work programme for 2003. The Home Office held preparatory meetings to discuss the UK's position on the ARGO programme on 11 September 2002 and 5 March 2003.
	The Daphne Committee met on 11 September 2002 to discuss the bids which had been received and agree the allocation of funds to successful projects. The Committee also met on 6 November 2002 to agree the annual work programme and criteria for evaluating and selecting bids for 2003. The Commission also presented a proposal for a new Council Decision establishing a second phase of the programme to run from 2004–08 (Daphne II). The Committee last met on 10 June 2003 to discuss the projects recommended for funding for 2003 and the final evaluation of the programme. The Commission also gave a progress report on negotiations for the Council Decision establishing the Daphne II programme.
	The UK is generally represented at meetings of these Committees by a Home Office official and an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. Reflecting the shared responsibility for the Daphne programme, the UK was represented at the Daphne Committee meeting on 11 September by a Home Office official, and by an official from the Department of Health at the meeting on 6 November. The UK was not represented at the meeting of 10 June.
	UK position at these meetings always takes Scottish views and concerns fully into account. It is possible for Scottish Executive officials to attend meetings of the Committees as part of the British delegation.

Illegal Drugs (Afghan Poppy Production)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on poppy production in Afghanistan in relation to the supply of illegal drugs in the United Kingdom.

Caroline Flint: Afghanistan has in recent years been the country from which upwards of 90 per cent. of heroin available in the UK has originated. Until levels of production of opium in Afghanistan reduce substantially from their current levels we would not expect to see an appreciable reduction in the amounts of heroin targeted on the UK from that source.

London Anti-war Demonstration (Policing)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who was in command of policing the anti-war demonstration in Trafalgar Square on 27 September.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tell me that the Metropolitan Police Public Order Branch were responsible for the arrangements and the policing of the anti-war demonstration in Trafalgar Square on 27 September.

National Probation Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria will be used to judge whether a chair of a probation board in England and Wales will be re-appointed; and whether chairs will be re-appointed provisionally.

Paul Goggins: The criteria for reappointment are set out in a competency based framework agreed for probation board chairs and other members. The framework covers five key areas of corporate governance:
	Corporate responsibility—being collectively responsible and accountable for leadership, direction and control of the probation area
	Organisational excellence—leading the service as it strives for organisational excellence through continuous improvement
	Valuing and Enabling Diversity—understanding and appreciating the impact that valuing and managing difference can make to organisational effectiveness
	Ambassador—promoting and representing the board and the service both internally and externally
	Working with People—achieving results through effective communication and team working.
	Board chairs may be reappointed for one further term subject to satisfactory assessment of performance against this framework.
	Those board chairs appointed when the National Probation Service was created in 2001 finish their first term of office on 31 March 2004. Those wishing to serve a further term have already been assessed and have been informed as to whether they will be reappointed. In accordance with good practice the appointments themselves will be made near the start of the term of office.

Northumbria Police Force

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was allocated to the Northumbria Police Force in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the tables.
	
		£000
		
			  Government grant(18) 
		
		
			 1997–98 173,660 
			 1998–99 185,169 
			 1999–2000 192,021 
			 2000–01 198,084 
			 2001–02 208,741 
			 2002–03(19) 211,102 
			 2003–04 225,208 
		
	
	(18) Government Grant includes Home Office Police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and national non-domestic rates, Crime Fighting Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Community Support Officer funding, DNA Expansion Programme and Special Priority payments.
	(19) The grant figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are not directly comparable, owing to changes from 2002–03 in the method of funding the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Based on the new arrangements, comparable grant figure for 2001–02 would have been £203,868,972.
	In addition, Northumbria received the following funding in capital grant, including Airwave and the Premises Improvement Fund.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 7,719 
			 1998–99 8,479 
			 1999–2000 5,408 
			 2000–01 2,844 
			 2001–02 11,780 
			 2002–03 5,552 
			 2003–04 5,786

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last two years a report from the Ombudsman has resulted in a payment by his Department to the complainant.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 3 November 2003
	For the year 2001–02, 21 cases resulted in payment by the Department.
	Six were as a result of investigation (two of which were discontinued before full report was issued). £6,185.00. 15 cases resolved short of statutory investigation i.e. by inquiry of Department. £2,650.00.
	For the year 2002–03, 47 cases resulted in payment by the Department. 13 were as a result of investigation (four of which were discontinued before full report was issued). £13,359.00. 34 cases resolved short of statutory investigation i.e. by inquiry of Department. £4,167.00.
	Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the Parliamentary Ombudsman each year as an attachment to his Annual Report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Report can be viewed in the Library, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police officer manning levels in the Lancashire Police Authority area.

Hazel Blears: Decisions on the balance between police officers and police (support) staff is a matter for the Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary (Paul Stephenson QPM). At the end of August 2003, the force had record strength of 3,469 police officers. This is 130 more than in March 2003 and 165 more than in March 2002. I understand that the force has forecast strength for 31 March 2004 at 3,503 officers. In March 2003, the force had 1,489 police (support) staff, which is 47 more than in March 2002.
	Additionally, Lancashire Constabulary had 77 Community Support Officers on 31 August 2003, with plans to have 107 by March 2004.

Police

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to merge constabularies in the area of the Government Office for the West Midlands.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 November 2003
	I have no plans to merge constabularies in the area of the Government Office of the West Midlands.

Police

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1242W, on the police, how many police officers licensed to carry firearms in each year since 1997 were (a) suspended and (b) prevented from carrying firearms; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information concerning the numbers of police officers licensed to carry firearms in each year since 1997 and (a) suspended and (b) prevented from carrying firearms is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police response vehicles are available (a) in each London borough and (b) to the (i) British Transport Police and (ii) Royal Parks Police; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information is provided as follows:
	(a) The statistics for borough based response vehicles are set out in the table. These have been provided by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis:
	
		
			 Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) Liveried Response Vehicles 
		
		
			 Barking Dagenham BOCU 12 
			 Barnet BOCU 24 
			 Bexley BOCU 14 
			 Brent BOCU 22 
			 Bromley BOCU 18 
			 Camden BOCU 20 
			 Croydon BOCU 21 
			 Ealing BOCU 22 
			 Enfield BOCU 14 
			 Greenwich BOCU 23 
			 Hackney BOCU 25 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16 
			 Haringey BOCU 20 
			 Harrow BOCU 14 
			 Havering BOCU 17 
			 Hillingdon BOCU 19 
			 Hounslow BOCU 18 
			 Islington BOCU 24 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 14 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 13 
			 Lambeth BOCU 40 
			 Lewisham BOCU 19 
			 Merton BOCU 13 
			 Newham BOCU 21 
			 Redbridge BOCU 20 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 14 
			 Southwark BOCU 34 
			 Sutton BOCU 14 
			 Tower Hamlets BOCU 20 
			 Waltham Forest BOCU 19 
			 Wandsworth BOCU 26 
			 Westminster BOCU 34 
			 Total 644 
		
	
	The Metropolitan Police Service also holds vehicles equipped to attend emergency calls, attached to specialist units.
	(b) (i) The British Transport Police has a total of 345 vehicles that can act as response vehicles.
	(ii) The Royal Parks Constabulary has two police response vehicles.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent overcrowding in prisons.

Paul Goggins: Levels of overcrowding are determined by Prison Service Area Managers and monitored carefully on the basis of operational judgment and experience.
	As part of the Prison Service building programme, the Government are investing £1.3 billion in the three years up to 2005–06 on building and operating additional capacity. The Prison Service will provide around 3,000 additional places in existing prisons by 2006. A further 1,290 places will be provided through the new prisons currently under construction at Ashford (near Heathrow) and at Peterborough. In addition, a new unit at Birmingham prison has opened recently, six months ahead of schedule, and provides an additional 452 places.
	We are further managing the prison population through the use of the Home Detention Curfew (HOC) through reforms to the criminal justice system.
	An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will make foreign national prisoners who are serving determinate sentences of more than three months liable to deportation up to four and a half months early. The measure brings the foreign nationals in line with UK prisoners who are eligible to apply for HOC. The same risk assessment procedures will apply.

Prisons

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were at each (a) prison and (b) young offenders' institution on 30 June; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Information on staff vacancies against planned posts at 30 June 2003, for each public sector prison and young offender institute is contained in the following table. The figures represent a snapshot of staffing at establishment level and do not take into account new staff who were still in the recruitment process on 30 June.
	During 2002, recruitment in the Prison Service reached record levels with a total of 6,645 new staff joining the Service. 2,240 prison officers began initial officer training in the 12 months to 30 June 2003. This high level of recruitment activity is predicted to continue into next year due in part to the rising prison population and new accommodation coming on stream.
	To assist in the retention of staff in particular areas, local pay allowances have been introduced. In addition, to cover vacancies in the short-term certain establishments are allowing officers to work additional hours as part of the 'Contracted Supplementary Hours Scheme'.
	
		Staff vacancies at prisons and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) at 30 June 2003(20)
		
			 Area/establishment Officers and senior operational managers Others 
		
		
			  High Security Prisons 
			 Belmarsh -49 -28 
			 Durham -6 — 
			 Frankland -30 -16 
			 Full Sutton -49 — 
			 Long Lartin -25 -2 
			 Manchester -14 -27 
			 Wakefield -9 — 
			 Whitemoor -52 -22 
			 Woodhill -23 -22 
			
			 Juvenile Establishments   
			 Huntercombe -12 — 
			 Warren Hill -10 -7 
			 Werrington -6 -8 
			 Wetherby -4 -1 
			
			 Women's Prisons and YOIs  
			 Askham Grange — -1 
			 Brockhill -1 -5 
			 Buckley Hall -4 — 
			 Bullwood Hall -14 — 
			 Cookham Wood -6 — 
			 Downview -18 -6 
			 Drake Hall -9 — 
			 East Sutton Park — — 
			 Eastwood Park -15 -1 
			 Foston Hall — -1 
			 Edmunds Hill -44 -41 
			 Holloway -19 -17 
			 Low Newton — — 
			 Morton Hall — -2 
			 New Hall -9 -13 
			 Send -6 -10 
			 Styal — -23 
			 East Midlands (North)   
			 Lincoln -11 — 
			 North Sea Camp -2 — 
			 Nottingham -8 — 
			 Ranby — — 
			 Sudbury -1 -1 
			 Whatton -1 — 
			
			 East Midlands (South)   
			 Ashwell -1 -9 
			 Gartree — — 
			 Glen Parva — — 
			 Leicester — — 
			 Onley -13 -7 
			 Stocken -9 -5 
			 Wellingborough -13 -4 
			
			 Eastern   
			 Bedford -15 -15 
			 Blundeston — — 
			 Chelmsford -4 -6 
			 Highpoint — -18 
			 Hollesley Bay -1 -1 
			 Littlehey -14 -16 
			 Norwich -11 -16 
			 The Mount -11 -6 
			 Wayland -2 -5 
			
			 Kent, Surrey and Sussex   
			 Blantyre House -1 — 
			 Canterbury — -3 
			 Coldingley — -4 
			 Dover -5 -11 
			 Elmley — -5 
			 Ford -3 -6 
			 High Down -18 -10 
			 Lewes -5 -19 
			 Maidstone -4 — 
			 Rochester -11 -8 
			 Standford Hill -3 -4 
			 Swaleside -12 — 
			
			 London   
			 Brixton -22 -23 
			 Feltham -31 -15 
			 Latchmere House -1 -3 
			 Pentonville -11 -27 
			 Wandsworth -31 -8 
			 Wormwood Scrubs -43 -30 
			
			 North East   
			 Acklington -3 — 
			 Castington -11 -4 
			 Deerbolt — -7 
			 Holme House -3 — 
			 Kirklevington Grange — — 
			
			 North West   
			 Garth -16 — 
			 Haverigg -2 -3 
			 Hindley -45 -18 
			 Kirkham — -4 
			 Lancaster -9 — 
			 Lancaster Farms -35 — 
			 Liverpool -22 — 
			 Preston -15 — 
			 Risley — -11 
			 Thorn Cross -7 — 
			 Wymott -6 — 
			 South West   
			 Bristol -36 -28 
			 Channings Wood — — 
			 Dartmoor -7 — 
			 Dorchester -13 -3 
			 Erlestoke -16 -3 
			 Exeter — -6 
			 Gloucester -10 -2 
			 Guys Marsh -6 -2 
			 Leyhill -8 — 
			 Portland — — 
			 Shepton Mallet — — 
			 The Verne -1 -2 
			 Weare -4 — 
			
			 Thames Valley and Hampshire  
			 Albany -14 — 
			 Aylesbury -6 — 
			 Bullingdon -40 -16 
			 Camp Hill -2 — 
			 Grendon -7 -8 
			 Haslar -7 -5 
			 Kingston — -1 
			 Parkhurst -10 -11 
			 Reading — -2 
			 Winchester -7 -12 
			
			 Wales   
			 Cardiff -7 -13 
			 Swansea -3 — 
			 Usk/Prescoed -3 -6 
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Birmingham -99 -5 
			 Blakenhurst — — 
			 Brinsford -7 — 
			 Featherstone -2 -2 
			 Hewell Grange -1 -6 
			 Shrewsbury — — 
			 Stafford -2 — 
			 Stoke Heath -6 — 
			 Swinfen Hall — — 
			
			 Yorkshire and Humberside   
			 Everthorpe — — 
			 Hull -7 — 
			 Leeds -4 — 
			 Lindholme -5 — 
			 Moorland — — 
			 Northallerton — -1 
			 Wealstun -2 — 
			 Total -1,247 -700 
		
	
	(20) Figures do not take into account new staff who were still in the recruitment process at 30 June 2003.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is public interest immunity in whistle blowing cases for (a) prison officers, (b) prison staff and (c) other personnel working within the Prison Service.

Paul Goggins: All staff working within the Prison Service are protected by the 'whistle blowing' provisions contained in the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Public Order

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken to implement a model Home Office bye-law to ban on-street drinking, from the day that the decision is taken by the local authority, was in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: This information is not available centrally and would be a matter for individual local authorities.

Road Safety

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for (a) driving without due care and attention, (b) failing to have proper control of a vehicle, (c) careless and inconsiderate driving and (d) dangerous driving have been secured in connection with the use of (i) hand-held mobile phones and (ii) all types of mobile phone in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The statistics collected centrally do not enable the convictions for motoring offences in connection with mobile phones to be separately identified.
	As from 1 December 2003, the specific offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone will be introduced under a new regulation to be added to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Small and Sporting Events Safety Guide

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Small and Sporting Events Safety Guide; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Event Safety—Best Practice Guide seeks to provide guidance to organisers of sporting and non-sporting events. We are consulting key stakeholders on a final draft. We hope to publish the guidance in the new year.

SO19 Firearms Branch

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the SO19 Firearms Branch were suspended, broken down by month, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has stated that no firearms officers were suspended from police duty during this period.

South Wales Police

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of south Wales police in murder cases; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary produced a 2002–03 report on south Wales police which included an assessment of their Major Crime Support Unit which handles the investigation of murder cases and other serious crimes. Her Majesty's Inspector (HMD) was impressed by the professionalism and the sense of duty to the public of the members of the unit. He reported that there was increased resilience in the investigative processes in south Wales Police and that increased value is being placed on family liaison and independent advisory groups during investigations of serious crime.
	HMI also reported on the decision taken in 1999 to re-investigate 11 undetected murders and commended south Wales police for its committed response to proper public concerns.
	A copy of the full HMIC report is in the Library.

Trick or Treat

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Metropolitan police concerning trick or treat calls.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis advises me, that the computerised system for recording police calls does not distinguish between 'trick or treat" calls and other nuisance/disturbance calls. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

West Yorkshire Police Authority

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to address the predicted funding shortfall in the West Yorkshire police authority area.

Hazel Blears: I shall announce details of the provisional police funding settlement in mid-November. It is a matter for West Yorkshire police authority to determine its final budget for next year in the light of its funding settlement, taking into account local needs and views.
	We expect police authorities to set budgets that ensure further improvements without placing excessive burdens on the local taxpayer.

Young Offender Institutions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost is of imprisoning an offender at a young offender institution; and what the total cost of running YOIs was in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The average annual cost of imprisoning an offender in a Young Offender Institution (YOI) is £29,721 in male closed YOI establishments and £18,866 in male open YOI establishments. These figures include establishment costs but exclude the share of headquarters overheads. The number of YOIs has not remained constant over the five-year period. These figures are not comparable with the Prison Service cost per place Key Performance Indicators.
	The following table shows the total cost of running young offender institutions in the last five years.
	
		£
		
			  Male closed YOI Male open YOI Total 
		
		
			 1998–99 122,460,000 9,410,000 131,870,000 
			 1999–2000 137,066,308 9,653,734 146,720,042 
			 2000–01 198,588,609 10,727,558 209,316,167 
			 2001–02 162,536,448 11,475,992 174,012,440 
			 2002–03 182,908,407 7,370,209 190,278,616 
		
	
	These year on year costs are not comparable due to a change in the accounting system from cash to resource. In addition the number of YOI establishments has decreased during this period, causing some fluctuation in the expenditure figures.

Young Offender Institutions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours on average offenders in young offender institutions spent on (a) education, broken down into (i) literacy, (ii) numeracy and (iii) other education-related activities, (b) exercise, (c) vocational work and (d) community work in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service collects information on the average hours prisoners spend on education activities broken down into various categories. The education statistics are not broken down into literacy and numeracy as requested. The information available for 2002–03 is given in the table. It relates to establishments categorised as a young offender institution as their main role.
	
		
			 Activity Average hours per week Average hours per inmate per week 
		
		
			 Basic skills education 17,035.4 2.68 
			 Other education   
			 Education leading to accreditation 10,179.4 1.60 
			 Maintaining safe and secure environment 299.3 0.05 
			 Health education clinics and promotion 1,363.5 0.21 
			 Other education 6,091.4 0.96 
			 Exercise   
			 Physical education 18,922.1 2.98 
			 Vocational work   
			 Skills training leading to recognised national accreditation 9,476.4 1.49 
			 Community work   
			 Voluntary work 405.0 0.06 
			 Total 63,772.4 10.04 
		
	
	Under the National Specification for learning and skills for young people serving a Detention and Training Order, juvenile offenders are expected to undertake one hour of private study per week in both literacy and numeracy, and a minimum of 12 hours of enrichment activities at the weekends.

Young Offender Institutions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many children in young offender institutions (a) had special educational needs, (b) had educational statements and (c) suffered psychosis in 2002–03; if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total number of children in each institution in the UK; and if he will list the institutions;
	(2)  how many teachers, expressed as full-time equivalents, work in each young offender institution; and if he will express this as a percentage of the young offenders institution population;
	(3)  how many of the teachers within each young offender institution have been specifically trained to teach children; how many are special educational needs teachers; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total number of children in each young offender institution.

Paul Goggins: An analysis of "ASSET" assessment forms, published in December 2002, found that 25 per cent. of all young people in the youth justice system had been identified as having special educational needs and that 60 per cent. of these had formal statements.
	Information about the number of children in young offender institutions diagnosed with psychosis in any particular year is not collected centrally. A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, undertaken in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), indicated that 8 per cent. of young men aged 16 to 20 on remand and 10 per cent. of such sentenced young men had suffered from a functional psychosis in the previous year.
	The table shows staff employed through the education contract in delivering or supporting education in establishments whose principal function is to hold Young Offenders. Data are from March 2003. Teaching staff include learning support assistants, and non-teaching staff include special educational needs co-ordinators.
	
		
			 Prisons Full-time lecturers Part-time lecturers Teaching staff Non-teaching staff Population 
		
		
			 Aylesbury 12 1 — — 354 
			 Stoke Heath 20 0 14 2 626 
			 Lancaster Farms 14 3 16 6 460 
			 Glen Parva 10 0 — — 784 
			 Onley 18 0 18 1 541 
			 Feltham 20 1 14 1 629 
			 Castington 10 7 19 1 300 
			 Portland 8 23 — — 446 
			 Swinfen Hall 5 4 — — 314 
			 Thorn Cross 13 0 18 4 176 
			 Brinsford 34 0 16 1 449 
			 Huntercombe 26 13 11 2 320 
			 Reading 9 14 — — 265 
		
	
	On the basis of the information available, approximately 90 per cent. of teaching staff across the juvenile estate are qualified or are working towards a further education qualification. The Prison Service will be providing accredited training to learning support assistants later in the year to help them support learning in the juvenile estate. An inclusive learning handbook has been issued to help teachers, and other prison staff, identify and support prisoners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
	The quality of teaching in custodial settings has improved through the introduction of the Common Inspection Framework. The new specification for teaching and learning we will introduce from September 2004 will also ensure quality control of teaching standards.

Young Offenders

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders from north Wales below the age of 15 years were sentenced to custody in the last three years for which records are available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is contained in the table.
	
		Juveniles aged 10–14 sentenced to immediate custody in North -- Wales in 1999, 2000 and 2001
		
			  Number of juveniles 
		
		
			 1999 1 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 7 
		
	
	Note:
	Statistics for 2002 will be published in December.

Young Offenders

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance is available to youth offenders to ensure that they are able to learn from mistakes and do not re-offend.

Hazel Blears: We have introduced a range of measures across England and Wales many of which place particular emphasis on reparation, education and training.
	These include Referral Orders, which were introduced nationally in April 2002 and are now the main disposal for young defendants pleading guilty for the first time. Youth offender panels, made up of representatives of the local community, agree an intervention programme with the young offender designed to tackle his/her offending behaviour. Victims are encouraged to participate in this process which can further enhance the impact of the panel on the young offender. The programme must include an element of reparation to the victim.
	The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) was introduced in July 2001 as an alternative to custodial sentences for persistent young offenders. The programme aims to bring some structure to offenders' often chaotic lifestyles by addressing the risk factors contributing to their offending behaviour, such as educational deficits, weaknesses in thinking skills or drug misuse.
	Where a custodial sentence is necessary, the Detention and Training Order is now the main sentence for 12–17 year olds. This includes individual training plans designed to address offending behaviour and associated risk factors and to provide young offenders with the necessary skills to avoid getting into trouble again.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Arson

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reduce the number of arson incidents; and what increase in resources the Government plans to give to fire authorities to tackle arson.

Phil Hope: The Government established the Arson Control Forum in 2001 to take forward a national programme of arson reduction measures. Part of this programme is to support multi-agency partnerships that tackle arson locally by funding community-based projects.
	To date, the forum has invested some £2.25 million of Government money in 50 local arson reduction projects in England and Wales. The Government have set aside an additional £4 million in 2003–04, rising to £4.5 million in 2004–05 and £4.8 million in 2005–06, for further arson reduction work. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering applications from local partnerships for grants from these funds.

Business Rates (Private Schools)

George Foulkes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the effect on the rating income of each local authority of the reduced rate of business rates paid by private schools because of their charitable status.

Nick Raynsford: There is no reliable basis on which to make such an estimate, as the information collected from local authorities on business rates relief does not distinguish private schools from other charities.
	The Local Government Finance Act 1988 provides mandatory rate relief to any ratepayer that is a charity or a non-profit making body operating as a charity and uses the property they occupy wholly or mainly for charitable purposes. A private school which is not run for profit counts as a charity and therefore qualifies for mandatory rate relief.
	Mandatory relief is available at 80 per cent. of the full rates bill and is fully centrally funded but can be increased to 100 per cent. at the discretion of local authorities. The discretionary increase is 25 per cent. centrally funded, and local authorities are required to meet the remaining 75 per cent. of any increase.

Census 2001

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the implications for future local government funding calculations of the recent Statistics Commission report on the accuracy of the 2001 census for the Westminster City Council area.

Nick Raynsford: For each year's Revenue Support Grant calculations, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister need to use the most up to date data that are available on a consistent basis for all local authorities. For population, this is the mid-year population estimates provided by the Office for National Statistics. If subsequent revisions are made to population estimates following the recommendations made in the Statistics Commission report or on the basis of other studies, such as the Westminster address matching exercise, then the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider whether to make an amending report. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have already announced that an amending report will be made for the 2003–04 settlement in respect of revisions made to population estimates by the Office for National Statistics.

Climate Change

John Denham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the total area of the properties in low lying areas that will be affected by an increased risk of flooding from the consequences of climate change by 2050.

Keith Hill: The Office of Science and Technology's Foresight project on flood and coastal defence is examining the factors that drive change in flood risk, their impacts and the effect of various responses under the range of foresight socio-economic futures scenarios. The Phase 2 report on risk drivers and their impacts is available in draft on the internet at www.foresight.gov.uk. It is currently subject to peer review.
	The results so far suggest that, on the assumption that there is no change in current flood management policies, there will be a low to moderate increase in the probability of inland flooding in the north and west of England and a negligible or low change either way in central and south-eastern parts. There will be a high increase in coastal flood risk in the south-east (from Essex to the Solent), particularly in the Thames estuary with moderate increases in the north Norfolk and Humber estuary areas.
	While there is a great deal of uncertainty, the analysis suggests that the number of people at high risk (i.e. within the Environment Agency's indicative flood plain) will increase from its present level of 1.56 million to a range of between 2.26 and 3.55 million by the 2080s, depending on which foresight socio-economic scenario is applied. Expected annual economic damage to residential and commercial property could increase in the same period from the current level of £1,000 million to between £1,600 million and £21,000 million, again depending on the foresight socio-economic scenario. The resulting areas of highest risk of damage, would appear to be the Thames valley and estuary, the Mersey–Humber corridor and areas around the Bristol Channel.

Climate Change

John Denham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the responsibilities of local authorities are in relation to preparations for the consequences of climate change on coastal areas; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: In July 2003, the Local Government Association and UK Climate Impacts Programme published advice to local authorities on "Climate change and local communities—how prepared are you?" This is available in the Library of the House and on the internet at www.ukcip.org.uk. It advises on local authority activities affected by climate change and how it can be taken into account. There is potential for climate change to impact on a wide range of local authority responsibilities, the principal ones in coastal areas being in relation to coastal defence, shoreline management and land-use planning.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment (Defra) Agency have jointly sponsored research on coastal evolution over the next 30–100 years, taking account of climate change scenarios. This provides the basis for consideration of climate change impacts in the second generation of shoreline management plans being prepared by the coastal groups of local authorities and Environment Agency.
	Planning policy guidance note 25 "Development and flood risk" issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2001 already contains guidance on how climate change can be taken into account when considering both inland and coastal flood risk. This is based on the guidance on sea-level rise and likely increase in river flows in Defra's project appraisal guidance for flood and coastal defence, which was published in 1999 and confirmed this year in the light of the UKCIP 2002 climate- change scenarios. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be publishing shortly further advice on the consideration of climate change in land-use planning.

Council Tax

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of council tax payers were (a) in receipt of (i) full and (ii) partial council tax benefits and (b) not in receipt of council tax benefit in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne (A) in 1996–97 and (B) in the most recent financial year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: In 1996–97, 43,000 council tax payers in Newcastle upon Tyne were in receipt of council tax benefit. This represents 38 per cent. of the chargeable dwellings as at 16 October 1996.
	In 2002–03, 33,000 council tax payers in Newcastle upon Tyne were in receipt of council tax benefit. This represents 30 per cent. of the chargeable dwellings as at 16 October 2002.
	Separate figures for the numbers of council tax benefit recipients receiving full or partial benefit are taken from a 1 per cent. annual sample and available only at a regional level. To provide information from the 1 per cent. sample by local authority would be subject to a high degree of sampling variation around the figures.

Council Tax

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties there were in each council tax band in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: The requested information is tabled as follows.
	
		Newcastle upon Tyne
		
			  Number of chargeable dwellings as at: 
			 Band 16 October 1996 16 October 2002 
		
		
			 A 69,513 67,409 
			 B 15,427 15,612 
			 C 15,722 15,700 
			 D 6,496 7,007 
			 E 3,234 3,433 
			 F 1,512 1,641 
			 G 1,278 1,278 
			 H 89 102 
			 Total 113,271 112,182 
		
	
	Source:
	CTB1 returns

Exceptions Policy (Housing)

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responses he has received to his consultation on the future of the exceptions policy for housing.

Keith Hill: Current policy on providing for rural exception housing is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing", Annex B. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recently published the consultation document "Influencing The Size, Type And Affordability Of Housing", which proposes that the current policy is replaced by a policy that enables local planning authorities to identify sites solely for affordable housing, on land within or adjoining existing villages, which would not otherwise be released for housing. The consultation period officially closed on 31 October 2003, but responses after that date have been considered because of the postal dispute. It is too early to say how many responses have been received or their nature.

Government Office (West Midlands)

David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are employed by the Government Office West Midlands; and how many were employed in 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Staff employed in permanent posts at Government Office for the West Midlands:
	October 1997: 294
	October 2003: 346
	These are not full-time equivalents. In 1997 the Government Office for the West Midlands represented three Departments, now it represents ten.

GVA/Grimley Planning Report

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements he has made for publishing the GVA/Grimley Planning Report. [R]

Keith Hill: The Government intend to publish the Report in due course.

Homelessness

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the most recent annual average cost is of housing a homeless (a) adult and (b) dependant in temporary accommodation in Greater London.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average number of (a) adults and (b) dependants housed in temporary accommodation in Greater London was in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Renewal Pathfinders

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many domestic properties were sold for under £20,000 in each of the housing renewal Pathfinder areas in the latest year for which figures are available.

Keith Hill: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Pathfinder area Sales below £20,000 during 2002 
		
		
			 Birmingham-Sandwell 53 
			 East Lancashire 2,463 
			 Hull 719 
			 North Staffordshire 636 
			 Manchester-Salford 1,656 
			 Merseyside 770 
			 Oldham-Rochdale 502 
			 South Yorkshire 621 
			 Tyneside 369 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The boundaries of the nine Pathfinder areas do not conform with any existing administrative area. So, for instance, the pathfinder area of South Yorkshire is not the same as the metropolitan county of the same name and the Pathfinder area of Hull is not the same as the area occupied by the unitary authority of Kingston-upon-Hull.
	2. Sales are taken to mean the transfer of ownership for value of freehold and long leasehold residential properties, whether or not the purchase was supported by a mortgage.
	Source:
	Land Registry

Housing Renewal Pathfinders

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the housing renewal Pathfinder areas, broken down by (a) population, (b) households and (c) empty and abandoned properties.

Keith Hill: The latest data available is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Pathfinder Population Households Vacant household spaces 
		
		
			 Birmingham-Sandwell 152,354 57,160 3,354 
			 North Staffordshire 146,637 64,100 3,799 
			 Merseyside 246,464 109,647 8,583 
			 Manchester-Salford 240,370 102,085 13,773 
			 Oldham-Rochdale 183,143 72,593 4,494 
			 East Lancashire 206,770 81,754 8,009 
			 South Yorkshire 297,887 125,132 6,288 
			 Humberside 241,412 103,078 7,203 
			 Newcastle-Gateshead 154,790 68,716 5,261 
			 All pathfinders 1,869,827 784,265 60,764 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data relates to the Pathfinder intervention areas that are smaller than the boundaries of the pathfinder local authorities. It uses the most consistent, robust and up-to-date data available for population and households, that being the Census 2001 data. 'Empty and abandoned properties' is not directly available within the Census 2001 dataset nor through other datasets for the intervention area. Therefore the closest equivalent Census 2001 data—'vacant household spaces'—has been provided. This figure approximates to what we would expect from 'empty and abandoned' property statistics if these were available.
	2. Data for 2002 on empty properties for the districts involved in the Pathfinders is available at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website thorough the Housing Investment Programme, Index of Data list under Housing Statistics.
	3. The data was derived from the published Census 2001 data as of June 2003 and does not reflect any subsequent revisions. The intervention area boundaries are those agreed between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Pathfinders as of June 2003.
	4. Each Pathfinder 'intervention area' in the table above consists of all Census small areas (2001 Output Areas) whose centroids fall within the Pathfinder boundary. This means that in a few cases the boundary is an approximation that includes small areas outside the Pathfinder or excludes small areas actually within it. For 2001 Census Output Areas, the centroids are supplied on the boundary file by Office for National Statistics. This is the most detailed level of analysis available through Census.
	Source:
	2001 Census, Key Statistics for output areas.

Inaccurate Census Counts

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department intends to compensate local authorities who may have been disadvantaged in local government spending allocations by inaccurate census counts.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already announced that an amending report will be made for the 2003/04 settlement to include any revised mid-2001 population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	Mid-2002 population estimates from the ONS will be used for 2004/05 Revenue Support Grant calculations. These include an upward revision for the population of Manchester. If any subsequent revisions are made to population estimates then the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider whether to make an amending report.

Local Government Finance

Owen Paterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Shropshire county council, (b) Oswestry borough council and (c) North Shropshire district council is to be financed by council tax payers in 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: Council tax expressed as a percentage of budgeted revenue expenditure for Shropshire county council, Oswestry borough council and North Shropshire district council in 2003–04 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Budgeted revenue expenditure(21) Council tax(22) 
			 2003–04 £000 £000 Percentage 
		
		
			 Shropshire 277,217 88,349 31.9 
			 North Shropshire 9,791 3,472 35.5 
			 Oswestry 5,983 2,448 40.9 
		
	
	(21) Revenue expenditure is expenditure financed from revenue support grant, specific and special grants within AEF, non-domestic rates, council taxes and balances. It also includes spending met by police grant.
	(22) Gross of council tax benefit.
	Source:
	2003–04 Budget Estimate Returns

Regional Assemblies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set a minimum threshold for turnout in the proposed regional assembly referendums below which the status quo would continue.

Nick Raynsford: No.

Mortgage Lending

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 8 January 2003, Official Report, columns 271–72W, on new mortgage lending, what the figures are for the most recent available months.

Keith Hill: The information is as follows.
	Variable/Fixed rate lending
	The estimated percentages of remortgages or further loans taken out in each of the past 12 months with an initial interest rate that was (a) variable and (b) fixed are shown in the following table. Also included, for comparison purposes, are the equivalent figures for new mortgages.
	
		
			  New mortgages for housepurchase Remortgages or furtherloans 
			  Variable Fixed Variable Fixed 
		
		
			 2002 
			 October 77.3 22.7 92.5 7.5 
			 November 71.0 29.0 89.8 10.2 
			 December 80.7 19.3 94.4 5.6 
			  
			 2003 
			 January 64.5 35.5 87.3 12.7 
			 February 62.8 37.2 87.2 12.8 
			 March 57.3 42.7 82.1 17.9 
			 April 55.4 44.6 80.1 19.9 
			 May 51.2 48.8 74.5 25.5 
			 June 46.2 53.8 76.0 24.0 
			 July 41.4 58.6 69.4 30.6 
			 August 37.9 62.1 65.0 35.0 
			 September 42.0 58.0 65.9 34.1 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM, Survey of Mortgage Lenders
	It should be noted that loans taken out at an initial fixed rate of interest are likely to revert to a variable rate of interest after a fixed period of time, unless of course the borrower then chooses to remortgage (again) at another fixed rate of interest. New mortgage lending, October 2002 to September 2003
	Gross mortgage lending on a not seasonally-adjusted basis over the most recent 12-month period, October 2002 to September 2003, is as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Mortgage lending for house purchase Other newmortgage lending 
		
		
			 2002   
			 October 11,336 11,143 
			 November 10,346 11,137 
			 December 7,125 9,466 
			
			 2003   
			 January 6,372 9,763 
			 February 7,368 10,238 
			 March 9,382 13,093 
			 April 10,020 13,539 
			 May 11,000 12,811 
			 June 13,130 13,580 
			 July 14,650 14,877 
			 August 14,420 14,316 
			 September 16,294 16,269 
			 Total 131,443 150,232 
		
	
	Note:
	Other new mortgage lending includes remortgage lending
	Source:
	Bank of England

Planning Appeals

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning appeals are with the (a) Planning Inspectorate and (b) Secretary of State; and how many of each have been outstanding for (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) one year and (iv) more than one year.

Keith Hill: The following table shows the numbers of planning appeals: (a) with the Planning Inspectorate for decision and (b) with the First Secretary of State for decision (that is those recovered appeals and non-transferable appeals for which the Inspector's report has been received).
	
		
			  Transferred appealswith PINS Recovered appealswith PINS The Secretary of State appeals with ODPM 
		
		
			 Total number of appeals 11,238 182 61 
			 Outstanding for three months 3,106 47 9 
			 Further cases outstanding for six months 1,163 37 7 
			 Further cases outstanding for a year or more 616 22 4

Property Prices

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average property price was in the (a) North East, (b) North West, (c) Yorkshire and Humber, (d) East Midlands, (e) West Midlands and (f) East of England Government Office Region in each financial year since 1995–96.

Keith Hill: Average property prices in each of the English regions from financial year 1996–97 to financial year 2002–03 are tabled as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Region 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 East 72,969 80,531 87,946 98,452 113,016 128,211 155,229 
			 East Midlands 57, 657 61,761 65,282 71,531 77,874 87,402 106,828 
			 London 109,785 126,394 139,764 168,479 195,169 208,623 240,060 
			 North East 52,092 54,578 57,097 60,132 62,208 67,495 78,645 
			 North West 55,555 59,366 62,149 67,678 71,442 78,784 90,934 
			 South East 88,486 97,817 109,007 124,797 145,265 160,243 187,791 
			 South West 70,480 77,040 83,064 94,382 108,503 123,495 151,261 
			 West Midlands 62,664 67,549 71,819 78,904 86,189 97,134 115,484 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 55,651 58,593 60,430 65,317 69,116 75,709 90,101 
			 England 74,608 82,254 88,878 101,605 112,280 123,986 145,710 
		
	
	Note:
	1996 is the first year for which Land Registry data are available. Consequently comparable figures for the financial year 1995–96 are not available.
	Source:
	Land Registry

Regional Government

Mr. Atkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total budget for the Elected Regional Assembly Information Campaign was, broken down by main budget headings.

Nick Raynsford: The information campaign is designed to inform members of the public about elected regional assemblies and referendums. The costs of the launch are estimated at £25,000. These costs included accommodation, venue hire, refreshments and transport.
	Material produced for the launch of the campaign, such as exhibition stands and leaflets will continue to be used throughout the information campaign in the three northern regions. The estimated total cost for the "information campaign" for this financial year are expected to be £500,000.

Regional Housing Policies

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rural proofing has been undertaken of the new regional housing policies.

Keith Hill: The Countryside Agency has been involved in the production of Regional Housing Strategies in all regions outside London. The agency is producing a checklist for rural proofing Regional Housing Strategies that will be used in developing the initial strategies. The housing funding allocations based on these initial strategies will deliver the Government's rural housing target of approving schemes for 3,500 affordable homes in settlements of below 3,000 people over the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Section 106 Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which respondents to his Planning Green Paper supported the idea of a tariff system for section 106 agreements. [R]

Keith Hill: Of the 505 consultation responses received, 309 broadly agreed with the proposal to introduce a tariff, 150 were against the proposal and 46 expressed other views.
	
		
			 Sector Broadly agreed Broadly against 
		
		
			 Business 54 83 
			 Local authorities 168 20 
			 Interest groups 72 36 
			 Other 15 11 
		
	
	However, many respondents expressed views that were supportive of elements of the proposal while disagreeing with other aspects. The breakdown given in the table is therefore approximate.

Section 106 Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning permissions given on (a) call-in and (b) appeal to him in each of the last five years have involved a section 106 agreement. [R]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is unable to provide this information in the time available but I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

Small Business

Mark Prisk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the effect of Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2003 on the competitiveness of small business.

Nick Raynsford: The effect of Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2003 on the competitiveness of small business was assessed in Regulatory Impact Assessments published during the passage of the Local Government Bill and in the final Regulatory Impact Assessment published on Royal Assent, which is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Energy Use

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: For answers in respect of parts (a) and (b) parts (i) and (ii) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 404W.
	Given the current size of the Cabinet Office estate and information currently available we anticipate some reduction in real terms in our energy consumption in future years but I cannot yet quantify the change.
	Improving energy efficiency is a continuing objective for the Cabinet Office and is an intrinsic part of our estate management activities. Since April 2002 we have worked in partnership with a Facilities Management provider to ensure the efficient use of energy throughout our operations, reflecting guidance on Government-wide energy efficiency initiatives and targets for energy use on the Government Estate. Continuing energy efficiency awareness campaigns encourage staff to conserve and make efficient use of energy.

Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003, Official Report, column 55W, on official cars, what accountability mechanism applies to the Leader of the Opposition.

Douglas Alexander: Individual office holders are responsible for ensuring appropriate use of Government cars in accordance with relevant guidance.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in relation to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, how many cases were considered in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken to consider cases was; and what the average cost was per case.

Douglas Alexander: The Parliamentary Ombudsman publishes information about the handling of cases in her annual report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at ww.ombudsman.org.uk. Information relating to the average costs associated with the Parliamentary Ombudsman's caseload is not held centrally.

HEALTH

Nurses

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the additional financial support offered to trainee NHS nurses since 1997.

John Hutton: Following the report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Report) in 1997, responsibility for nursing students training at degree level transferred from the Department for Education (now the Department for Education and Skills) to the Department of Health. From 1998 onwards, these students have been supported through the national health service bursary scheme and receive a more favourable package of support than other students in mainstream education.
	NHS Bursary rates across all professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent. (well ahead of inflation) in 2001.
	The Department has made a number of other improvements to the scheme, including extension of eligibility for disabled students' allowances and hardship support to diploma level students, and more help with the costs of travel and accommodation. The Government have also committed to introduce help with the costs of child care from 2004.
	My ministerial colleagues and I continue to keep NHS funded student support arrangements under review in order to ensure that they continue to meet our objectives for the service.

Nurses

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to trusts for the recruitment of nurses from outside the UK.

John Hutton: The Department has issued the following guidance to national health service trusts who are recruiting nurses from the outside the United Kingdom.
	Guidance on International Nursing Recruitment (November 1999)
	The Code of Practice for NHS employers involved in the international recruitment of healthcare professionals (October 2001)
	Guide for the Provision of Adaptation for Nurses in the Independent and National Health Service Sectors (May 2003)
	These documents are available on www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment.

Acute Hospital Beds

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in acute hospitals in London in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Information on the numbers of beds by ward classification is collected for each national health service trust and not by individual hospital site or type of hospital. Information on the number of beds is published annually and is available from the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/.
	Up to 1999–2000, this information was also published in paper form in Bed Availability and Occupancy: England, copies of which are available in the Library.

Angioplasty

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients undergoing angioplasty received titanium stents in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the reliability of stents.

Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health does not hold this data centrally.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently conducted an appraisal and provided guidance on the use of coronary artery stents. The guidance recommends that stents should be used routinely for people with either stable or unstable angina or with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Asbestos

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers his Department has to require companies dealing with asbestos to release information regarding former employees who have contracted an asbestos-related disease.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	Regulation 21 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002 No. 2675) requires employers to keep their employee's personal health records for 40 years. The Regulation allows the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to request copies of those records as and when they require. HSE could release such information they obtain only if the employee gave permission or if it were needed for legal proceedings.

Choice and Plurality

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will publish the reports on the two large scale simulations run by OPM to explore the potential effects of choice and plurality policies on the NHS;
	(2)  if he will publish the data reports for conferences organised by OPM on choice and plurality in the NHS for each strategic health authority in which they have taken place this year.

John Hutton: A copy of the Department of Health Strategy Unit's summary of the two choice simulation events, ran for the Department by the Office of Public Management, has been placed in the Library.

Dental Laboratories

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions have been brought under Regulation 14(a)(s) of the Medical Devices Regulations 1994 against dental laboratories which have not registered in accordance with the regulations since they came into force; what steps his Department is taking to identify those dental laboratories which are not so registering; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: No prosecutions have been undertaken against dental laboratories which have failed to register under the Medical Devices Regulations (now consolidated in SI2002 No. 618). The vast majority of breaches of the regulations are resolved with the co-operation of the manufacturer in line with the Governments Concordat on Enforcement without the need for prosecution. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which enforces the regulations in the United Kingdom, investigates and resolves all potential breaches that are drawn to its attention.

Dentistry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase provision of NHS dental services in Shropshire.

Stephen Ladyman: Oswestry dental access centre reopened in June 2003 following £160,000 refurbishment and expansion. This has increased the number of surgeries from three to four. The Department of Health has also provided funding for an additional dentist and dental nurse.
	There is also an "Options for Change" field site in Oswestry, which is investigating the effective use of professionals complementary to dentistry.
	Subject to Parliament, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will give new duties to primary care trusts (PCTs) from April 2005 to secure dental services and will enable them to provide assistance and support to dental practices with which they contract. From the same date, the £1.2 billion held centrally for dentistry will be devolved to PCTs to support them in delivering their new duties on dentistry. To enable PCTs to provide assistance to dental practices in advance of 2005, we have published the General Dental Services Incentive Schemes Directions 2003.
	We have also set up an national health service support team to work with PCTs to tackle access problems and have provided new investment of £44 million for dentistry to support access, choice and quality. The NHS support team will be working with the NHS locally in Shropshire to see what assistance they can provide.

Drug Misuse

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the waiting time for treatment for drug abuse in Shropshire; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Shropshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is responsible for drug misuse services in Shropshire.
	Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority reports that the PCT's drug action team has taken part in the 'Opening Doors' programme promoted by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the NHS Modernisation Agency.
	As a result, significant progress has already been made on waiting times in Shropshire. The latest figures show waiting times of between two and five weeks, depending on the kind of treatment.

Food Supplements Directive

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to raise with the relevant European Commissioner the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to liaise at a political level with other European member state governments as part of his strategy for achieving the best possible maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive.

Melanie Johnson: Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The United Kingdom continues to press for European Union maximum permitted limits to be set on a safety basis, and in doing so, is using its influence in both scientific and political forums. I intend to raise this issue with Ministers in other member states as and when appropriate. I am also seeking to arrange a meeting with Commissioner David Byrne at the earliest practicable opportunity.

General Practitioners

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on implementing the target for 48-hour access to an appointment with a general practitioner.

John Hutton: At September 2003, 93 per cent. of patients could be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days. This represents considerable progress over the position in 1998, when only around 50 per cent. of people had this level of access.

General Practitioners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on ensuring adequate general practitioner coverage in communities without a local surgery.

John Hutton: Each local primary care trust (PCT) is under a duty to secure provision of primary medical services for all people in its area. PCTs may deploy a variety of strategies to deliver this.

General Practitioners

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the general practitioner vacancy (a) rate and (b) number was in each English region in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The Department's annual GP Recruitment and Retention Vacancy Survey started only from the year 2000.
	The estimated three-month general practitioner (GP) vacancy rate for England in 2003 was 3.4 per cent. This is an increase from 2.7 per cent. in 2002. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the vacancy rate at strategic health authority (SHA) level. Estimated three-month vacancy rates are not available before 2002.
	The number of GP vacancies for each SHA since 2000 is shown in the table. This represents a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include turnover posts, and also posts created to boost expansion, even where they were filled very quickly. Thus, the increase in vacancies in part is a result of there being more posts overall, reflecting the Government's plan to increase the GP workforce.
	
		England GP vacancy numbers by SHA from 2000 to 2003
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England total 1,143 2,345 2,487 3,245 
			 Of which: 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 67 117 114 166 
			 Bedford and Hertfordshire 22 80 94 107 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 45 116 157 104 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 73 111 125 115 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 34 69 101 110 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 25 56 54 44 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 30 93 99 121 
			 Essex 29 66 79 157 
			 Greater Manchester 38 51 92 164 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 55 107 122 121 
			 Kent and Medway 42 54 41 97 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 44 89 123 133 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 33 79 25 124 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 32 76 85 94 
			 North Central London 22 78 80 53 
			 North East London 18 55 17 104 
			 North West London 49 60 93 78 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 28 67 60 105 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 54 74 108 101 
			 Somerset and Dorset 31 69 93 73 
			 South East London 38 101 81 179 
			 South West London 16 42 29 45 
			 South West Peninsula 34 48 51 94 
			 South Yorkshire 40 76 68 118 
			 Surrey and Sussex 66 90 120 153 
			 Thames Valley 43 129 95 106 
			 Trent 67 145 174 201 
			 West Yorkshire 68 147 107 178 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Years prior to 2003 have been mapped to current SHA areas.
	2. 2003 numbers were collected directly from primary care trusts (PCTs). Previous years vacancy numbers were collected from health authorities (HAs).
	3. In 2003, one PCT in South West London SHA did not respond to the survey.
	4. In 2002–04, HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Surrey and Sussex SHA, South West London SHA, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA and Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA.
	5. In 2001–02, HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Surrey and Sussex SHA and South West London SHA.
	6. In 2000–04, HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Thames Valley SHA, County Durham and Tees Valley SHA, North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA and Trent SHA.
	Source:
	Department of Health GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy surveys 2000–03.

Health Care (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there were in York in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of general practitioners in York are not held centrally. The tables show the nearest geographical match for which figures are held centrally.
	
		All general medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(23)for North Yorkshire Health Authority numbers (headcount)
		
			  North Yorkshire Health Authority QDR 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 459 
			 1993 471 
			 1994 477 
			 1995 490 
			 1996 490 
			 1997 493 
			 1998 498 
			 1999 509 
			 2000 522 
			 2001 525 
		
	
	(23) All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA) and PMS other.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1992 to 1999 and 30 September 2000 to 2001.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	
		All general medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(24)for Selby and York -- numbers (headcount)
		
			  York PCG Selby PCG Selby and York PCT 
		
		
			  4YT24 4DK03 5E2 
			 1999 134 44 (25)— 
			 2000 138 44 (25)— 
			 2001 (25)— (25)— 182 
			 March 2002 (25)— (25)— 190 
			 2002 (25)— (25)— 197 
			 March 2003 (25)— (25)— 202 
			 June 2003 (25)— (25)— 204 
		
	
	(24) All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other and flexible career schemes.
	(25) not available.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1999, 30 September 2000 to 2002, 30 March 2002 to 2003 and 30 June 2003.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Health Care (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) non-medical, non-nursing care workers and (c) administrative staff were employed in GP practices in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: The number of practice staff (whole time equivalent) including nurses and administrative staff, broken down by category, employed in general practitioner (GP) practices in each year since 1992 is shown in table 1.
	The number of practice staff and practice nurses (headcount) employed in GP practices in each year since 1992 is shown in table 2.
	Information on non-medical, non-nursing care workers is not available. However, it is likely that they are included in the direct patient care category.
	
		Table 1—Practice staff(26) by type 1992 to 2002—England whole time equivalents
		
			of which: 
			  Practice staff(26) Practice nurse Direct patient care Admin. and clerical Other 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 51,020 9,121 1,210 39,950 739 
			 1993 53,952 9,605 1,218 42,349 781 
			 1994 51,833 9,099 1,196 41,299 239 
			 1995 59,255 9,745 1,577 47,353 579 
			 1996 59,318 9,821 1,486 47,637 374 
			 1997 60,579 10,082 1,521 48,341 635 
			 1998 61,331 10,358 1,744 48,885 342 
			 1999 63,087 10,689 1,876 49,990 531 
			 2000 62,583 10,711 1,866 49,529 477 
			 2001 64,998 11,163 2,090 51,390 355 
			 2002 67,107 11,998 2,511 51,444 1,154 
			 Percentage increase1992 to 2002 31.5 31.5 107.6 28.8 56.1 
		
	
	(26) Practice staff includes practice nurses, direct patient care, admin. and clerical and other.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1992 to 1999 and 30 September 2000 to 2002.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	
		Table 2—Practice staff(27)by type 1992 to 2002—England -- numbers (headcount)
		
			  Practice staff(27) of which:Practice nurse 
		
		
			 1992 80,213 (28)16,635 
			 1993 84,185 (28)17,517 
			 1994 84,211 16,500 
			 1995 97,794 18,243 
			 1996 97,379 17,898 
			 1997 100,047 18,389 
			 1998 100,975 (28)18,894 
			 1999 105,828 (28)19,495 
			 2000 102,270 19,200 
			 2001 104,319 19,846 
			 2002 107,275 20,983 
			 Percentage increase 1992 to 2002 33.7 26.1 
		
	
	(27) Practice staff includes practice nurses, direct patient care, admin. and clerical and other.
	(28) Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for these years.
	Note:
	1. Headcount figures for other types of practice staff are not available separately.
	2. Data as at 1 October 1992 to 1999 and 30 September 2000 to 2002.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Health Care (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with GP practices in York in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the form requested. The tables show the numbers of patients registered with general practitioners in the areas that most closely correspond to York.
	
		Patients of Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)(29) for North Yorkshire health authority Number (headcount)
		
			  North Yorkshire HA QDR 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 715,117 
			 1993 726,107 
			 1994 731,641 
			 1995 738,096 
			 1996 739,885 
			 1997 745,228 
			 1998 727,159 
			 1999 754,476 
			 2000 751,292 
			 2001 757,341 
		
	
	(29) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1992–99 and 30 September 2000–01
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	
		Patients of Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)(30) for Selby and York Number (headcount)
		
			   1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Selby PCG 4DK03 67,506 67,546 — — 
			 York PCG 4YT24 209,391 207,696 — — 
			 York and Selby PCTPCT 5E2 — — 277,918 280,633 
		
	
	(30) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000–02
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Health Care (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations for (a) cataracts, (b) hernia, (c) hip replacement and (d) knee replacement were carried out at York District Hospital in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		All operations (OPCS4 codes in brackets) Cataracts, Inguinal hernia, Hip replacement and Knee replacement procedures: Trust Provider of Treatment RGB York Health NHS Trust -- NHS hospitals, 1992–93 to 2001–02Consultant Episodes Count of Finished
		
			  Procedure grouping 
			  Cataracts (C71, C72, C74, C75) Inguinal hernia (T19-T21) Hip replacement (W37-W39) Knee replacement (W40-W42) 
		
		
			 1992–93 750 529 239 93 
			 1993–94 874 504 266 115 
			 1994–95 989 511 298 120 
			 1995–96 867 544 274 155 
			 1996–97 1,010 551 271 163 
			 1997–98 1,035 397 256 174 
			 1998–99 1,337 493 313 213 
			 1999–2000 1,448 473 298 209 
			 2000–01 1,392 442 342 233 
			 2001–02 1,357 500 371 246 
		
	
	Notes:
	Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	Grossing
	Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 which is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	All Operations count of Episodes
	These figures represent a count of all FCE's where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (four prior to 2002–03) operation fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Information Technology

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to sign the first local strategic partnership contracts under the national programme for NHS information technology.

John Hutton: The first contract for a national electronic booking system was completed and announced on 8 October 2003.
	The first contracts for local service providers for the national programme for information technology in the national health service will be for the North East and London Strategic Health Authority clusters and are expected to be awarded and completed in November 2003.

ME

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down by region the £8.5 million announced on 12 May to provide services for patients with symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Stephen Ladyman: We are fully committed to improving services for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. We are currently considering the bids received from local health communities under this scheme. Funding will be made available to cover the two years from 1 April 2004. Funding decisions for year one will be announced towards the end of January 2004. The funding decisions for year two will be announced in June 2004.

NHS Disciplinary Cases

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidelines have been put in place to ensure that, in contentious disciplinary cases within NHS trusts, evidence submitted to an investigation is seen in full;
	(2)  what steps his Department takes to ensure that disciplinary procedures within the NHS trusts outstanding for 18 months are dealt with promptly.

John Hutton: National health service trusts are responsible for the establishment of their own local disciplinary procedures.
	We have been working very closely with the British Medical Association and British Dental Association to finalise a new national framework for doctors and dentists. The main elements of the framework were included in the joint statement of agreed principles which was published in September 2003 as part of the consultant contract consultation.
	The Department has taken action to ensure that disciplinary cases are dealt with promptly. In the short term a senior human resources expert, working with the support of an expert steering group from across the Department, NHS and General Medical Council is available to help local management to resolve outstanding cases quickly. In addition, the National Clinical Assessment Authority is available to assist with case management.

NHS Disciplinary Cases

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the costs of (a) suspensions and (b) disciplinary procedures in the NHS for (i) Coventry, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) England;
	(2)  how many suspensions lasting over 18 months there are in the NHS for (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England.

John Hutton: The Department routinely collects information on hospital and community medical and hospital dental staff suspended for more than six months. The information does not include cases where the practitioner is not suspended.
	For the third quarter 2003, the latest date for which figures are available, there was one suspension reported to the Department lasting over 18 months in Coventry and a total of 13 in England. The total reported cumulative cost of suspensions lasting more than six months for the period 1 July-30 September 2003 in Coventry is £398,750, West Midlands (including Coventry) £489,755 and an estimated £3.5 million in England (including the above figures).

NHS Salaries

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list salaries and wages costs for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff by NHS trust for the financial years (i) 2000–01 and 2001–02.

John Hutton: This information has been placed in the Library.

Occupational Therapy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many initial contacts there have been between NHS patients and occupational therapy staff in London in each of the past 10 years.

John Hutton: Figures for occupational therapy initial contacts in London for the past 10 years are shown in the table.
	
		Thousand
		
			  Initial contacts 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992–93 111 
			 1993–94 146 
			 1994–95 130 
			 1995–96 151 
			 1996–97 160 
			 1997–98 150 
			 1998–99 152 
			 1999–2000 152 
			 2000–01 152 
			 2001–02 148 
			 2002–03 152 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Statistics Division 3G KT26.

Older People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what use he will make of the skills profiles which general hospitals which care for older people have been asked to provide; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many general hospitals have completed a skills profile of their staff in relation to the care of older people; and how many have in place a training programme to address the gaps identified.

Stephen Ladyman: It is for strategic health authorities to monitor achievement of the milestone in the older people's national service framework about general hospitals completing skills profiles of their staff in relation to the care of older people and developing appropriate training programmes. Information about progress is not collected centrally.

Patient Lists

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average NHS patient list size is for (a) general practitioners and (b) dental practitioners.

John Hutton: Data on the number of family doctors and patients are published annually. The latest edition, "Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England: 1992–2002, is available at: http://www. doh.gov.uk/public/sb0303.pdf and shows that the average list is 1,838, four per cent. lower in 2002 than it was in 1992.
	Dentists working in the general dental services (GDS) are free to register as many or as few patients as they choose. Patients who cannot, or who choose not to, register can still access national health service dental services through the personal dental service, community dental service, emergency dental service and the hospital dental service, and on an occasional basis, in the GDS.
	At 30 June 2003, there were 16,326 principal dentists in the GDS in England and 23.5 million patients registered. On average, there were 1,436 registrations per principal dentist. Registrations cover patients seen in the last 15 months.

Patient Transport

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of transport to enable patients in areas where there is no general practitioner within walking distance to get treatment when it is needed.

John Hutton: This is a matter for local decision by primary care trusts. However, if a patient's condition is such that he or she cannot get to the surgery, the general practitioner concerned is required to make a home visit.

Primary Care

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to protect current levels of primary care treatment of communities whose surgeries are removed to LIFT centres outside walking distance.

John Hutton: We are committed to increasing the range and amount of treatment offered to patients outside of a hospital setting. New local investment finance trust developments bringing together a range of services into convenient locations will help improve patients' access to a range of services.

Primary Care Centres

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many one-stop primary care centres there are in England; where they are located; how many are proposed; where they will be located; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan announced the development of 500 one-stop primary care centres by the end of 2004. At the end of June 2003, 247 one stop primary care centres had been opened and local delivery plans suggest more than 500 will be open by the end of 2004. "Delivering the NHS Plan" (2002) announced an additional 250 centres by 2008, 125 of which are to be delivered by 2006
	A detailed list of centres and their locations is not yet available but is being completed.

Quality Indicators

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the ease of collection of quality indicators for general medical services practices through the introduction of new computer systems to the NHS.

John Hutton: The Department is currently in discussion with the General Practitioners Committee and the NHS Confederation regarding the development of computer systems to support the quality and outcomes framework. The proposed solution will seek to minimise the practice work load by supplying practices and primary care trusts with systems which will support their business processes.

Respite Beds

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many respite beds there are in (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) South Buckinghamshire and (c) Wycombe constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: The data are not available centrally.

Speech/Language Therapy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many initial contacts there were between patients and speech and language therapy staff in the NHS in London in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Speech and Language therapy initial contacts, London, 1992–93 to 2002–03 -- Thousand
		
			  Initial contacts 
		
		
			 1992–93 45 
			 1993–94 45 
			 1994–95 52 
			 1995–96 51 
			 1996–97 55 
			 1997–98 57 
			 1998–99 54 
			 1999–2000 54 
			 2000–01 55 
			 2001–02 55 
			 2002–03 59 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Statistics Division 3G KT29.

Trust Performance Ratings

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the performance ratings for (a) acute and (b) specialist trusts for 2002–03.

John Hutton: Information on the performance ratings for 2002–03 for all organisation types are available in the Library and on the Commission for Health Improvement's website at www.chi.nhs.uk/ratings.

Volatile Substance Abuse

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the Flemen report on volatile substance abuse.

Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health commissioned independent research work on volatile substance abuse (VSA) to inform future policy work on VSA and the national drug strategy. As is customary in such situations, there are no plans to publish this report.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Magistrates Courts

Mike Wood: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the budget of magistrates' courts for administration of licensing will be transferred to local authorities when responsibility for the work is transferred

Christopher Leslie: On 10 July 2003, the Licensing Act received Royal Assent. The Act will transfer responsibility for the administration of licenses from the magistrates' courts to local authorities.
	Under current arrangements, the principle is that the cost to magistrates' courts of the administration of licensing is covered by the licensing fees charged. As such, there is no separate budget in the magistrates' courts that is allocated to licensing that could be transferred to local authorities. The intention of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who have overall responsibility for the Act, is that a similar system will operate after the transfer of responsibility. I understand that licensing fees will be set at a level that will folly cover the administration, inspection and enforcement costs incurred by local authorities in relation to licensing.

Delayed Trials

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many trials were delayed because of late arrival of prisoners from (a) police cells and (b) prisons in 2002–03, broken down by court in Lancashire.

Christopher Leslie: Performance data was not collected centrally on late delivery of prisoners in 2002–03. However, I am able to provide data on late delivery between prisons and the Crown Court from July to September 2003.
	Data for Lancashire Criminal Justice Area for this period reveals that an average of 8 trials per month in the Crown Court were delayed due to late delivery. This equates to an average of 5.6 per cent. of all cases listed for trial in any one month. The average delay was an hour and a half per case. The length of delay, however, varies significantly from 10 minutes to 3 and a half-hours.
	
		Data by court average from July-September 2003
		
			  
		
		
			 Lancaster Crown Court None 
			 Preston Crown Court 4.3 cases 
			 Burnley Crown Court 0.3 cases 
			 Carlisle Crown Court 3.7 cases 
		
	
	Unfortunately, I am unable to provide like data for the Magistrates' Courts relating to the late delivery of prisoners as this is not collected.

Divorced Parents

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2003, Official Report, column 630, on divorced parents, if he will (a) commission research into the number of divorced fathers who maintain effective contact with their children and (b) take steps to monitor the welfare of children, when the children's mother is granted leave to remove them from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Before granting leave to take children abroad, the courts will consider all the relevant issues and, as required by the Children Act 1989, have the best interests of the child as their paramount concern. Therefore, children will only be taken abroad with the leave of the court where it judges such a step to be in their best interests. Such children will be living in many parts of the world and it would not be appropriate or practical for the UK Government to exercise a monitoring role. There are, therefore, no current plans to commission research or to introduce a monitoring role in this area.

Electoral Fraud

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research he has collated on the level of electoral fraud in (a) postal ballots and (b) voting in person.

Christopher Leslie: The independent Electoral Commission has evaluated every all-postal electoral pilot scheme undertaken since April 2002. The evaluations included consideration of the issue of fraud and the findings from the 2003 pilots informed the Commission's recent 'Shape of elections to come' report, which concluded that 'there is only very limited evidence of any increase in fraud linked to all-postal ballots.'

Electoral Fraud

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what criminal sanctions there are in relation to electoral fraud.

Christopher Leslie: There are a number of offences relating to electoral fraud which carry a variety of penalties including a minimum fine of £200 (in some circumstances no maximum is specified) and custodial sentences ranging from 6 months to 2 years. In addition, these offences may be classified as either illegal or corrupt practices, which carry different sanctions, depending on the offence. These include disenfranchisement and disqualification from standing as a candidate for specified periods.

Electoral Fraud

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list cases of electoral fraud that have resulted in a custodial sentence in the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: I regret that information on electoral fraud cases has not been systematically collected or held centrally. The Electoral Commission is working with the Crown Prosecution Service to develop a process to identify and monitor electoral fraud cases.

Electoral Fraud

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on electoral fraud.

Christopher Leslie: My officials and I are in frequent communication with the Electoral Commission on a range of electoral issues, including electoral fraud. Following such discussions, and recommendations made by the Commission, consideration is currently being given to a number of changes to electoral procedures, some of which are aimed at fraud prevention. Meanwhile, we have included in the current European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill, an extension of the offence of 'personation' (to cover remote voting) and a power to extend the time limit by which a prosecution for such an offence must begin.

Family Courts

Paul Goodman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations he has received on the legal provisions which apply in relation to the division of property in family courts; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 November 2003
	Under current legislation, the courts are empowered to make a number of orders in relation to the division of family property and must consider a range of issues in each case. They have the discretion to make the orders that they see as appropriate and fair with regard to the specific circumstances of a case. The representations I receive are by way of correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of their constituents and from members of the public. In the main they relate to general queries or complaints about the way the legislation will be or has been applied in particular cases.

House Sales

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house sales there were at more than (a) £50,000, (b) £100,000, (c) £200,000, (d) £500,000, (e) £750,000 and (f) £1 million in the Chorley constituency in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The figures for each completed calendar year are as follows. The Land Registry collects residential property price data by specified price bands and it is not possible to provide figures for sales specifically at more than £750,000. Alternative ranges have therefore been provided.
	
		
			 £ 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 50,001 100,000 770 806 932 1,056 1,060 1,193 
			 100,001 200,000 261 332 385 437 579 845 
			 200,001 500,000 16 29 39 39 73 168 
			 500–001 600,000 0 1 0 0 0 2 
			 600,001 800,000 0 0 1 1 0 5 
			 800,001 1 million 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Over 1 million 0 0 0 0 0 1

House Sales

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house sales of less than £20,000 in east Lancashire took place in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	
		
			 Calendar year Sales below £20,000 in the area of east Lancashire as defined in note 1 below Sales below £20,000 in the east Lancashire pathfinder area 
		
		
			 1997 1,340 1,452 
			 1998 1,461 1,482 
			 1999 1,372 1,382 
			 2000 1,683 1,702 
			 2001 1,953 1,881 
			 2002 2,821 2,463 
		
	
	1. The area of "east Lancashire" referred to in the first column of sales figures has been interpreted as comprising the districts of Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale.
	2. Sales are taken to mean the transfer of ownership for value of freehold and long leasehold residential properties, whether or not the purchase was supported by a mortgage.
	Source:
	Land Registry

Magistrates

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what advice the Lord Chancellor gives on the age of magistrates.

Christopher Leslie: I would refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on 6 November 2003, Official Report, column 43WS concerning the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellors' National Strategy for the Recruitment of Lay Magistrates. That records the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor's decision that there need be no lower age limit for applicants to the magistracy who can show that they have the key qualities needed for appointment. This is intended to help in achieving a more diverse and better-balanced bench. The upper age limit for recruitment of magistrates is 65. The training to serve as a magistrate takes approximately two years to complete, and at least two—three years on the bench is needed to recoup the cost of training before a magistrate reaches the statutory retirement age of 70.

Mental Health

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will bring forward proposals in the draft Mental Incapacity Bill to prevent (a) medical staff and (b) carers from withholding care to people who are mentally incapacitated.

David Lammy: The Draft Mental Incapacity Bill establishes a framework under which decisions can be made on behalf of adults who lack capacity. The Bill contains a requirement that all decisions must be made in the best interests of the person. The current law is that, in certain circumstances, care that involves the provision of medical treatment may be withheld by medical staff if this is in the best interests of the person because the continuation of such care would serve no beneficial purpose and would be burdensome. The Bill would not change this. However the Bill adds a new safeguard of a criminal offence of ill-treatment and neglect. This would mean that wilfully neglecting someone by withholding care could lead to prosecution.

Mental Health

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) charities, (b) religious groups, (c) legal professionals and (d) medical professionals about provisions on the withholding of care in the draft Mental Incapacity Bill.

David Lammy: My Department has had a large number of discussions with a wide range of stakeholders on all aspects of the draft Bill and we set up a Consultative Forum in September 2002 to facilitate this. We have engaged with a number of lay and religious groups, for example Alert and CARE, in order to learn more about their views on healthcare decision-making, including the circumstances in which medical treatment is withdrawn or withheld. We have also similarly engaged with legal and medical professional organisations, including the Law Society and the British Medical Association. We are committed to maintaining contact with these and other groups with an interest in the draft Bill.

Paper Deeds

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether all paper deeds will be returned to the registered land and home owners rather than destroyed in the process of putting the Land Registry on-line.

David Lammy: When making an application to Land Registry, a customer may now request the return of any of the documents lodged with the application subject, in most cases, to providing a certified copy.
	For documents lodged on or before commencement of the Land Registration Act 2002 on 13 October 2003, registered owners have five years from that date to request the return of a document lodged by them or by a previous owner.
	No decision has yet been made by Land Registry as to whether, and if so in what circumstances, documents will be destroyed. However, the Land Registration Rules 2003 require that before any documents are destroyed (and subject to the five year period for certain documents, as mentioned above) the Chief Land Registrar must be satisfied that either he has made a sufficient copy of the document or that further retention is unnecessary.